Knots to kph Converter
Convert between nautical and metric speed units
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Understanding Knots and Speed Conversion
What is a Knot?
A knot is a unit of speed equal to one nautical mile per hour. It's primarily used in marine navigation and aviation because it's based on the Earth's latitude and longitude coordinate system. One nautical mile equals one minute of latitude, making it extremely useful for navigation calculations.
Why Use Knots?
- •Navigation: Directly related to Earth's coordinate system
- •Weather: Wind speeds and weather patterns use knots
- •Aviation: International aviation standard speed unit
- •Marine: Universal maritime speed measurement
Conversion Methods
Converting between knots and kilometers per hour is straightforward once you know the basic relationship: 1 knot = 1.852 km/h exactly. This conversion factor comes from the definition of a nautical mile.
Knots to km/h
Multiply knots by 1.852
Example: 10 knots × 1.852 = 18.52 km/h
km/h to Knots
Divide km/h by 1.852 (or multiply by 0.539957)
Example: 18.52 km/h ÷ 1.852 = 10 knots
Historical Context
The term "knot" comes from the practice of measuring ship speed using a "log line" - a rope with knots tied at regular intervals. Sailors would drop the line overboard and count how many knots passed over the stern in a specific time period, giving them their speed in "knots."