Convert kilometers per hour to meters per second easily.
1 km÷h / 3.6 = 0.278 m/s
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Ever glanced at your car’s speedometer showing 60 km/h and wondered how that translates to meters per second? Maybe you’re analyzing athletic performance or solving a physics problem. Whatever the reason, understanding how to convert between kilometers per hour (km/h) and meters per second (m/s) bridges everyday experiences with scientific precision. Let’s break it down.
Unit definitions
What is a kilometer per hour (km/h)?
- Description: Measures speed as kilometers traveled in one hour.
- Symbol: km/h
- Common uses: Road speed limits, vehicle dashboards, weather reports for wind speed.
- Definition: 1 km/h = 1000 meters / 3600 seconds ≈ 0.27778 m/s.
What is a meter per second (m/s)?
- Description: Measures speed as meters traveled in one second.
- Symbol: m/s
- Common uses: Physics experiments, athletic speed analysis, engineering calculations.
- Definition: 1 m/s = 3.6 km/h. It’s the SI unit for speed.
Conversion formula
To convert km/h to m/s, divide the speed by 3.6. The formula is:
m/s = km/h ÷ 3.6
This works because 1 kilometer = 1000 meters and 1 hour = 3600 seconds. Simplifying 1000/3600 gives 1/3.6.
Example calculations
- Converting 90 km/h to m/s:
90 ÷ 3.6 = 25 m/s.
So, a car moving at 90 km/h travels 25 meters every second. - Converting 5 m/s to km/h:
5 × 3.6 = 18 km/h.
A person running at 5 m/s is moving at 18 km/h.
Conversion tables
Kilometers per hour to meters per second
| km/h | m/s |
|---|---|
| 10 | 2.78 |
| 20 | 5.56 |
| 30 | 8.33 |
| 40 | 11.11 |
| 50 | 13.89 |
| 60 | 16.67 |
| 70 | 19.44 |
| 80 | 22.22 |
| 90 | 25.00 |
| 100 | 27.78 |
Meters per second to kilometers per hour
| m/s | km/h |
|---|---|
| 1 | 3.6 |
| 2 | 7.2 |
| 5 | 18.0 |
| 10 | 36.0 |
| 15 | 54.0 |
| 20 | 72.0 |
| 25 | 90.0 |
| 30 | 108.0 |
Historical background
The kilometer per hour became widely adopted in the early 20th century as countries embraced the metric system. Road signs across Europe and Asia started displaying km/h, making it the standard for automotive speed. Meanwhile, meters per second gained traction in scientific communities during the same period, particularly after the International System of Units (SI) formalized it as the base unit for speed in 1960. The begining of space exploration in the 1960s further cemented m/s in physics, as rocket velocities demanded precise, standardized measurements.
Interesting facts...
- Athletics Insight: Olympic sprinters reach speeds of around 12 m/s (43 km/h), while marathon runners average 5.8 m/s (21 km/h).
- Weather Science: Hurricane wind speeds are often reported in both km/h and m/s for public and scientific audiences.
- Automotive Testing: Car manufacturers use m/s in crash tests to measure impact forces accurately.
- Animal Speed: The cheetah’s top speed of 29 m/s (104 km/h) is often cited in zoology studies.
- Aerospace: The International Space Station orbits Earth at 7,660 m/s (27,576 km/h).
FAQ
Meters per second is often used in physics, engineering, and sports analytics for precise speed measurements, while km/h is common in daily life for vehicles.
Yes. Since 1 hour equals 3600 seconds and 1 kilometer equals 1000 meters, dividing by 3.6 gives an exact conversion.
Multiply the m/s value by 3.6. For example, 10 m/s equals 36 km/h.
Most countries except the U.S. and UK use km/h for road signs. The U.S. uses miles per hour (mph).
Yes. Divide by 4 and subtract 10% for a rough estimate. For 100 km/h, 100 ÷ 4 = 25, minus 2.5 ≈ 22.5 m/s (actual 27.78 m/s).