Feet per second (ft/s) to Metres per second (m/s) conversion

Feet per second to Metres per second conversion table

Feet per second (ft/s)Metres per second (m/s)
00
10.30479991872
20.60959983744
30.91439975616
41.21919967488
51.5239995936
61.82879951232
72.13359943104
82.43839934976
92.74319926848
103.0479991872
206.0959983744
309.1439975616
4012.1919967488
5015.239995936
6018.2879951232
7021.3359943104
8024.3839934976
9027.4319926848
10030.479991872
1000304.79991872

How to convert feet per second to metres per second?

Converting between feet per second (fps) and meters per second (m/s) is a common task in physics and engineering. This section explains how to perform these conversions, providing formulas and examples for practical understanding.

Understanding the Conversion Factor

The core of the conversion lies in the relationship between feet and meters. One foot is defined as exactly 0.3048 meters. This constant is the key to converting between the two units of speed.

1 foot=0.3048 meters1 \text{ foot} = 0.3048 \text{ meters}

Therefore, to convert feet per second to meters per second, you multiply by this conversion factor.

Converting Feet per Second to Meters per Second

To convert from feet per second to meters per second, use the following formula:

Meters per second=Feet per second×0.3048\text{Meters per second} = \text{Feet per second} \times 0.3048

For example, to convert 1 foot per second to meters per second:

1 fps=1×0.3048=0.3048 m/s1 \text{ fps} = 1 \times 0.3048 = 0.3048 \text{ m/s}

So, 1 foot per second is equal to 0.3048 meters per second.

Converting Meters per Second to Feet per Second

To convert from meters per second to feet per second, you divide by the same conversion factor (0.3048):

Feet per second=Meters per second0.3048\text{Feet per second} = \frac{\text{Meters per second}}{0.3048}

Or, equivalently, multiply by the reciprocal of 0.3048, which is approximately 3.28084:

Feet per second=Meters per second×3.28084\text{Feet per second} = \text{Meters per second} \times 3.28084

For example, to convert 1 meter per second to feet per second:

1 m/s=1÷0.30483.28084 fps1 \text{ m/s} = 1 \div 0.3048 \approx 3.28084 \text{ fps}

So, 1 meter per second is approximately equal to 3.28084 feet per second.

Notable Figures and Historical Context

While the conversion itself is straightforward, the use of these units is rooted in different measurement systems. The foot is a customary unit primarily used in the United States and a few other countries, while the meter is a base unit in the International System of Units (SI), used globally for scientific and most engineering applications. The standardization of these measurements has been influenced by scientific figures like the members of the French Academy of Sciences, who helped establish the metric system in the late 18th century.

Real-World Examples

  1. Running Speed: An average jogging speed might be around 6 mph, which is approximately 8.8 feet per second. In meters per second:

    8.8 fps=8.8×0.30482.68 m/s8.8 \text{ fps} = 8.8 \times 0.3048 \approx 2.68 \text{ m/s}

  2. Wind Speed: A moderate breeze might be 15 mph, which is approximately 22 feet per second. In meters per second:

    22 fps=22×0.30486.71 m/s22 \text{ fps} = 22 \times 0.3048 \approx 6.71 \text{ m/s}

  3. Car Speed: A car traveling at 60 mph is roughly 88 feet per second. In meters per second:

    88 fps=88×0.304826.82 m/s88 \text{ fps} = 88 \times 0.3048 \approx 26.82 \text{ m/s}

Base 10 vs. Base 2 Considerations

This conversion is consistent across both base-10 (decimal) and base-2 (binary) systems because it deals with physical units of measurement. The decimal or binary system used for representing numbers does not affect the underlying physical conversion factor between feet and meters. The conversion factor 0.30480.3048 applies universally.

See below section for step by step unit conversion with formulas and explanations. Please refer to the table below for a list of all the Metres per second to other unit conversions.

What is Feet per Second?

Feet per second (fps) is a unit of speed expressing the distance in feet traveled per second. It's commonly used in various fields, including sports, engineering, and meteorology, to quantify how fast an object is moving.

Formation of Feet per Second

Feet per second is derived from two fundamental units:

  • Feet (ft): A unit of length in the imperial and US customary systems.
  • Second (s): The base unit of time in the International System of Units (SI).

The unit is formed by dividing a distance measured in feet by a time measured in seconds:

Speed=Distance (ft)Time (s)\text{Speed} = \frac{\text{Distance (ft)}}{\text{Time (s)}}

Real-World Examples and Applications

  • Sports: A baseball pitch can reach speeds of 90-100 mph, which is approximately 132-147 fps.
  • Meteorology: Wind speed is often measured in feet per second, especially in aviation and weather forecasting. For example, a moderate breeze might be around 15-20 fps.
  • Engineering: Calculating the speed of a vehicle or fluid flow in a pipe. For instance, water flowing through a pipe at 10 fps.
  • Ballistics: Measuring the muzzle velocity of a bullet, which can range from 800 fps to over 3000 fps depending on the firearm and ammunition.

Relationship to Other Speed Units

Feet per second can be converted to other common units of speed using the following relationships:

  • Miles per hour (mph): 1 fps ≈ 0.681818 mph
  • Meters per second (m/s): 1 fps ≈ 0.3048 m/s
  • Kilometers per hour (km/h): 1 fps ≈ 1.09728 km/h

Notable Associations and Facts

While there isn't a specific law or person directly associated with the invention or formalization of feet per second, its usage is deeply ingrained in fields that involve motion and speed measurements.

  • Galileo Galilei: His work on motion and free fall laid the groundwork for understanding speed and acceleration, though he didn't use the modern unit of feet per second.
  • Speed of Sound: At sea level and 20°C, the speed of sound is approximately 1125 fps. This is a critical value in acoustics and aerodynamics. Read more about speed of sound from NASA Glenn Research Center.

Quick Conversions

Here are some common speeds converted to feet per second:

  • 30 mph ≈ 44 fps
  • 60 mph ≈ 88 fps
  • 100 mph ≈ 146.67 fps

What is metres per second?

What is Metres per second?

Metres per second (m/s) is the standard unit of speed (scalar) or velocity (vector) in the International System of Units (SI). It represents the distance traveled in metres during each second. Understanding this unit is crucial in physics and everyday applications for quantifying motion.

Understanding Metres per Second

Definition

Metres per second (m/s) is a derived unit, meaning it's defined in terms of base SI units: the metre (m) for length and the second (s) for time. It expresses how many metres an object travels in one second.

Formula

Speed or velocity is calculated as:

v=dtv = \frac{d}{t}

Where:

  • vv = speed or velocity (m/s)
  • dd = distance traveled (m)
  • tt = time taken (s)

Formation of Metres per Second

The unit is formed by dividing a distance measured in metres by a time measured in seconds. This gives you the rate at which an object is moving.

For example, if a car travels 100 metres in 10 seconds, its average speed is:

v=100 m10 s=10 m/sv = \frac{100 \ m}{10 \ s} = 10 \ m/s

Notable Associations

Galileo Galilei

Galileo Galilei, a prominent figure in physics and astronomy, significantly contributed to our understanding of motion. While he didn't use the modern unit of m/s, his experiments with falling objects and motion on inclined planes laid the groundwork for understanding speed and acceleration, concepts directly related to metres per second.

Isaac Newton

Isaac Newton used the concepts of distance and time in his laws of motion. The first law states that an object in motion stays in motion with the same speed and in the same direction unless acted upon by a force. This constant speed is very related to meters per second.

Real-World Examples

Walking Speed

A typical walking speed is around 1.4 m/s.

Sprinting Speed

An Olympic sprinter can reach speeds of around 10-12 m/s.

Car Speed

A car traveling at 60 km/h is moving at approximately 16.67 m/s. (60,000 m3600 s=16.67 m/s\frac{60,000 \ m}{3600 \ s} = 16.67 \ m/s)

Speed of Sound

The speed of sound in dry air at 20°C is approximately 343 m/s.

Orbital Speed

The International Space Station orbits Earth at approximately 7,660 m/s.

Conversion to Other Units

Metres per second can be converted to other common units of speed:

  • Kilometres per hour (km/h): Multiply m/s by 3.6. (m/s3.6=km/hm/s * 3.6 = km/h)
  • Miles per hour (mph): Multiply m/s by 2.237. (m/s2.237=mphm/s * 2.237 = mph)
  • Knots (kn): Multiply m/s by 1.944. (m/s1.944=knotsm/s * 1.944 = knots)

Complete Feet per second conversion table

Enter # of Feet per second
Convert 1 ft/s to other unitsResult
Feet per second to Metres per second (ft/s to m/s)0.30479991872
Feet per second to Kilometres per hour (ft/s to km/h)1.097279707392
Feet per second to Millimeters per hour (ft/s to mm/h)1097279.707392
Feet per second to Miles per hour (ft/s to mph)0.681818
Feet per second to Knots (ft/s to knot)0.5924838739671
Feet per second to Feet per minute (ft/s to ft/min)60.000176000563
Feet per second to Inches per hour (ft/s to in/h)43207.73130545