Meters Per Second to Feet Per Second
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1 meter per second (m/s) = 3.280839895 foot per second (fps). Meter Per Second (m/s) is a unit of Speed used in Metric system. Foot Per Second (fps) is a unit of Speed used in Standard system.

Meters per second: A unit of speed

Meters per second (m/s) is a unit of speed or velocity in the International System of Units (SI). It measures how fast an object is moving by calculating the distance traveled in meters divided by the time taken in seconds. For example, if a car travels 100 meters in 5 seconds, its speed is 20 m/s.

How to convert meters per second

Meters per second can be converted to other units of speed or velocity by using simple conversion factors. Here are some common units and their conversion factors:

• Kilometers per hour (km/h): To convert from m/s to km/h, multiply by 3.6. To convert from km/h to m/s, divide by 3.6. For example, 20 m/s is equal to 72 km/h, and 50 km/h is equal to 13.89 m/s.
• Miles per hour (mph): To convert from m/s to mph, multiply by 2.2369. To convert from mph to m/s, divide by 2.2369. For example, 20 m/s is equal to 44.74 mph, and 30 mph is equal to 13.41 m/s.
• Knots (kn): To convert from m/s to kn, multiply by 1.9438. To convert from kn to m/s, divide by 1.9438. For example, 20 m/s is equal to 38.88 kn, and 15 kn is equal to 7.72 m/s.
• Feet per second (ft/s): To convert from m/s to ft/s, multiply by 3.2808. To convert from ft/s to m/s, divide by 3.2808. For example, 20 m/s is equal to 65.62 ft/s, and 40 ft/s is equal to 12.19 m/s.

Where meters per second are used

Meters per second are widely used in science and engineering to measure the speed or velocity of various phenomena, such as sound waves, light waves, wind speed, fluid flow, projectile motion, etc.

Meters per second are also used in some countries as the official unit of speed or velocity for road traffic signs and regulations. For example, in Canada, the maximum speed limit on highways is usually 100 km/h, which is equivalent to 27.78 m/s.

Meters per second are also used in sports and athletics to measure the performance of athletes, such as sprinters, swimmers, cyclists, etc.

Definition of meters per second

According to the SI definition, one meter per second is the speed of a body that covers a distance of one meter in a time of one second.

Mathematically, it can be expressed as:

v = s / t

where v is the speed or velocity in meters per second, s is the distance traveled in meters, and t is the time taken in seconds.

History of meters per second

The concept of speed or velocity has been studied since ancient times by philosophers and scientists such as Aristotle, Galileo, Newton, etc.

The meter was originally defined in 1793 by the French Academy of Sciences as one ten-millionth of the distance from the equator to the North Pole along a meridian through Paris.

The second was originally defined in terms of the Earth’s rotation as one eighty-six thousand four hundredth of a mean solar day.

The combination of these two units resulted in the meter per second as a unit of speed or velocity.

The meter per second was officially adopted as part of the SI system in 1960.

Example conversions of meters per second to other units

Here are some examples of converting meters per second to other units of speed or velocity:

• 10 m/s = 36 km/h = 22.37 mph = 19.44 kn = 32.81 ft/s
• 5 m/s = 18 km/h = 11.18 mph = 9.72 kn = 16.4 ft/s
• 15 m/s = 54 km/h = 33.55 mph = 29.17 kn = 49.21 ft/s
• 25 m/s = 90 km/h = 55.92 mph = 48.61 kn = 82.02 ft/s
• 50 m/s = 180 km/h = 111.85 mph = 97.22 kn = 164.04 ft/s
• 100 m/s = 360 km/h = 223.69 mph = 194.39 kn = 328.08 ft/s
• 200 m/s = 720 km/h = 447.39 mph = 388.79 kn = 656.17 ft/s

Feet per second: A unit of speed

Feet per second (ft/s) is a unit of speed or velocity in the US customary and imperial systems. It measures how fast an object is moving by calculating the distance traveled in feet divided by the time taken in seconds. For example, if a person walks 10 feet in 2 seconds, their speed is 5 ft/s.

How to convert feet per second

Feet per second can be converted to other units of speed or velocity by using simple conversion factors. Here are some common units and their conversion factors:

• Meters per second (m/s): To convert from ft/s to m/s, multiply by 0.3048. To convert from m/s to ft/s, divide by 0.3048. For example, 1 ft/s is equal to 0.3048 m/s, and 10 m/s is equal to 32.8084 ft/s.
• Kilometers per hour (km/h): To convert from ft/s to km/h, multiply by 1.09728. To convert from km/h to ft/s, divide by 1.09728. For example, 1 ft/s is equal to 1.09728 km/h, and 50 km/h is equal to 45.8734 ft/s.
• Miles per hour (mph): To convert from ft/s to mph, multiply by 0.681818. To convert from mph to ft/s, divide by 0.681818. For example, 1 ft/s is equal to 0.681818 mph, and 30 mph is equal to 44 ft/s.
• Knots (kn): To convert from ft/s to kn, multiply by 0.592484. To convert from kn to ft/s, divide by 0.592484. For example, 1 ft/s is equal to 0.592484 kn, and 15 kn is equal to 25.3281 ft/s.
• Inches per second (in/s): To convert from ft/s to in/s, multiply by 12. To convert from in/s to ft/s, divide by 12. For example, 1 ft/s is equal to 12 in/s, and 20 in/s is equal to 1.66667 ft/s.
• Miles per second (mi/s): To convert from ft/s to mi/s, multiply by 0.000189394. To convert from mi/s to ft/s, divide by 0.000189394. For example, 1 ft/s is equal to 0.000189394 mi/s, and 1 mi/s is equal to 5280 ft/s.

Where feet per second are used

Feet per second are mainly used in engineering and aviation to measure the speed or velocity of machines and aircrafts.

For example, the speed of sound in air at sea level is about 343 m/s or about 1125 ft/s.

The maximum speed of a Boeing 747 jet airliner is about 988 km/h or about 2717 ft/s.

The average speed of a bullet fired from a handgun is about 1200 ft/s.

Definition of feet per second

According to the US customary and imperial systems definition, one foot per second is the speed of a body that covers a distance of one foot in a time of one second.

Mathematically, it can be expressed as:

v = s / t

where v is the speed or velocity in feet per second, s is the distance traveled in feet, and t is the time taken in seconds.

History of feet per second

The concept of speed or velocity has been studied since ancient times by philosophers and scientists such as Aristotle, Galileo, Newton, etc.

The foot was originally derived from the Roman foot which was defined as one third of a yard or about 11.65 inches.

The second was originally defined in terms of the Earth’s rotation as one eighty-six thousand four hundredth of a mean solar day.

The combination of these two units resulted in the foot per second as a unit of speed or velocity.

The foot per second was officially adopted as part of the US customary and imperial systems in the late 18th century.

Example conversions of feet per second to other units

Here are some examples of converting feet per second to other units of speed or velocity:

1 ft/s = 0.3048 m/s = 1.09728 km/h = 0.681818 mph = 0.592484 kn = 12 in/s = 0.000189394 mi/s
2 ft/s = 0.6096 m/s = 2.19456 km/h = 1.36364 mph = 1.18497 kn = 24 in/s = 0.000378788 mi/s
5 ft/s = 1.524 m/s = 5.4864 km/h = 3.40909 mph = 2.96241 kn = 60 in/s = 0.00094697 mi/s
10 ft/s = 3.048 m/s = 10.9728 km/h = 6.81818 mph = 5.92482 kn = 120 in/s = 0.00189394 mi/s
20 ft/s = 6.096 m/s = 21.9456 km/h = 13.6364 mph = 11.8496 kn = 240 in/s = 0.00378788 mi/s
50 ft/s = 15.24 m/s = 54.864 km/h = 34.0909 mph = 29.6241 kn = 600 in/s = 0.0094697 mi/s
100 ft/s = 30.48 m/s = 109.728 km/h = 68.1818 mph = 59.2482 kn = 1200 in/s = 0.0189394 mi/s