Convert Meters per Second to Knots easily.
1 m÷s x 1.94384 = 1.94384 kn
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If you’ve ever watched a weather forecast or tracked a ship’s speed, you’ve probably heard of knots. But meters per second? That’s the language of physicists and engineers. Converting between these two isn’t just about numbers, it’s about bridging two worlds: the practical seafaring tradition and modern scientific precision. Let’s untangle this.
Unit definitions
What is a meter per second (m/s)?
Meters per second measure speed in the International System of Units (SI). It’s the distance in meters traveled in one second. You’ll see it in physics labs, wind tunnel tests, or when calculating the velocity of a soccer ball. Symbol: m/s. Definition: 1 m/s = 3.6 km/h.
What is a knot (kn)?
A knot is a nautical speed unit rooted in sailing history. One knot equals one nautical mile per hour. Fun fact: the term comes from sailors throwing a log tied with knots into the water to measure speed. Symbol: kn. Definition: 1 knot ≈ 1.15078 mph or 0.51444 m/s.
Conversion formula
To convert m/s to knots, multiply by 1.94384:
knots = m/s × 1.94384
For knots to m/s, divide by the same factor:
m/s = knots ÷ 1.94384
Example calculations
- Converting 5 m/s to knots:
5 m/s × 1.94384 = 9.7192 kn
That’s like a strong breeze—enough to sway trees but not knock them over. - Converting 15 knots to m/s:
15 ÷ 1.94384 ≈ 7.716 m/s
A speedboat cruising at this pace would leave a noticeable wake.
Conversion tables
Meters per second to knots
| m/s | knots |
|---|---|
| 1 | 1.9438 |
| 2 | 3.8877 |
| 3 | 5.8315 |
| 4 | 7.7754 |
| 5 | 9.7192 |
| 6 | 11.663 |
| 7 | 13.6069 |
| 8 | 15.5507 |
| 9 | 17.4946 |
| 10 | 19.4384 |
Knots to meters per second
| knots | m/s |
|---|---|
| 1 | 0.5144 |
| 2 | 1.0289 |
| 3 | 1.5433 |
| 4 | 2.0578 |
| 5 | 2.5722 |
| 6 | 3.0867 |
| 7 | 3.6011 |
| 8 | 4.1156 |
| 9 | 4.6300 |
| 10 | 5.1444 |
From logs to lasers: A speed story
Centuries ago, sailors measured speed by tossing a wooden log overboard. The log was tied to a rope with evenly spaced knots. As the ship moved, sailors counted how many knots slipped through their hands in 30 seconds. Voilà—the birth of the knot. Fast forward to the 17th century, the metric system introduced meters per second, grounded in Earth’s circumference. While m/s became a benefit for scientists, knots stuck around in navigation. Even today, the International Maritime Organization requires ships to use knots for consistency. Imagine a cargo ship captain switching between units mid-ocean. Chaos, right?
Interesting facts
- Aviation’s knot habit: Pilots use knots for airspeed. Why? It syncs with nautical charts and weather reports, avoiding mid-flight unit conversions.
- Hurricane speeds: Category 5 hurricanes have wind speeds over 70 m/s (136 kn). That’s faster than most trains.
- Olympic sprinters: Usain Bolt’s top speed (12.4 m/s) equals roughly 24 knots. He’d outpace many sailboats.
- Subway speeds: The New York City subway averages 17 m/s (33 kn). Not bad for underground travel.
- Speed of sound: At sea level, sound travels at 343 m/s (666 kn). Supersonic jets break this barrier effortlessly.
FAQ
Knots are tied to nautical miles, which align with Earth's latitude lines. This makes navigation charts simpler, since 1 nautical mile equals 1 minute of latitude. Meters per second are more common in scientific contexts.
The conversion factor (1 m/s ≈ 1.94384 kn) is precise for most practical uses. Even NASA uses this ratio for maritime and aeronautical calculations.
Yes. Multiply knots by 0.51444 to get m/s. For quick estimates, divide knots by 2 and subtract 10%. Example: 10 kn ≈ (10/2) - 1 = 4 m/s (actual: 5.1444 m/s).
Yes. 1 m/s equals roughly 1.94384 knots, so it’s nearly twice as fast. A breeze of 5 m/s feels like 9.7 knots, which is a moderate wind on the Beaufort scale.
Most Scandinavian countries use m/s for wind speeds. However, international maritime reports still default to knots for consistency across borders.