Scribd
Upload
71 views

Knots Versus Miles Per Hour: Knots Is How The Speed of Aircraft and Boats Is Measured. Both Miles Per Hour and

The document discusses how speed is measured for aircraft and boats in knots, and how to convert between knots and miles per hour. It provides an example of converting a train speed of 50 mph to knots. It also discusses how speed of sound varies with altitude and is measured in Mach number. Tables are provided to convert between knots, mph, and speed of sound at different altitudes based on air density changes with altitude.

Uploaded by

Jojimar Julian
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
71 views

Knots Versus Miles Per Hour: Knots Is How The Speed of Aircraft and Boats Is Measured. Both Miles Per Hour and

The document discusses how speed is measured for aircraft and boats in knots, and how to convert between knots and miles per hour. It provides an example of converting a train speed of 50 mph to knots. It also discusses how speed of sound varies with altitude and is measured in Mach number. Tables are provided to convert between knots, mph, and speed of sound at different altitudes based on air density changes with altitude.

Uploaded by

Jojimar Julian
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
You are on page 1/ 2

Knots Versus Miles per Hour

Knots is how the speed of aircraft and boats is measured. Both miles per hour and
knots is a speed which is the number of units of distance that is covered for a certain
amount of time.

1 knot = 1 nautical mile per hour = 6076 feet per hour


1 mph =1 mile per hour = 5280 feet per hour

For example, if a train is moving at 50 mph on a track, how would you represent this
speed in knots (even though trains are not usually represented in knots)?

To do this problem easily, one must convert the speed in miles per hour that the train is
moving to the speed in feet per hour. This is accomplished by multiplying by the number
of feet in a mile.
That is, (50 mph)*(5280 feet/ mile)=264,000 feet/hr

Now, convert the feet per hour to knots by multiplying by the knots conversion factor (1
knot/ 6076 [feet/hr]).

(264,000 [feet/hr])*(1knot/6076 [feet/ hour]) = 43.4 knots

Exercises:

1. Complete the following chart:

In aerodynamics, speed is also measured by the Mach number, which is the ratio of


the speed of the object to the speed of sound. Mach 1 means that you are traveling at
the speed of sound or 661.7 knots, or

Mach 1 = 661.7 knots

How would you determine the speed of sound in mph?


Since

661.7 knots = (661.7 nautical miles/hr) (6076 feet/nautical miles)


= 4,020,489.2 feet/hr

and

(4020489.2 ft/hr)/(5280 ft/mile)=761.5 mph

We can say that Mach 1 = 761.5 mph at sea level.

Since the speed of sound varies with the density of air ( or whatever material it is
transmitted through), one needs to determine the density of the air the aircraft is flying
through. To compute this, we will use the chart shown below, called the International
Civil Aviation Organization Table, or I.C.A.O.

Notice as the altitude increased, the density of air decreases as does the speed of
sound in knots.

 
2. Using the I.C.A.O. table below, complete the following chart:

3. Now complete the following chart:

A text only version of this problem and answer are also available.

I.C.A.O. Standard Atmosphere


Altitude Speed of Sound
Density
(Feet) (Knots)
0 .002377 661.7
1,000 .002308 659.5
2,000 .002241 657.2
3,000 .002175 654.9
4,000 .002111 652.6
5,000 .002048 650.3
6,000 .001987 647.9
7,000 .001927 645.6
8,000 .001868 643.3
9,000 .001811 640.9
10,000 .001755 638.6
15,000 .001496 626.7
20,000 .001266 614.6
25,000 .001065 602.2
30,000 .000889 589.5
35,000 .000737 576.6
36,089 * .000706 573.8
40,000 .000585 573.8
45,000 .000460 573.8
50,000 .000362 573.8
55,000 .000285 573.8
* Geopotential of Tropopause

You might also like