Metre per second

The metre per second is the unit of both speed (a scalar quantity) and velocity (a vector quantity, which has direction and magnitude) in the International System of Units (SI), equal to the speed of a body covering a distance of one metre in a time of one second. According to the definition of metre, 1 m/s is exactly ${\textstyle {\frac {1}{299792458}}}$ of the speed of light.

The SI unit symbols are m/s, m·s⁻¹, m s⁻¹, or ⁠m/s⁠.

Conversions

1 m/s is equivalent to:

= 3.6 km/h (exactly)

≈ 3.2808 feet per second (approximately)

≈ 2.2369 miles per hour (approximately)

≈ 1.9438 knots (approximately)

1 foot per second = 0.3048 m/s (exactly)

1 mile per hour = 0.44704 m/s (exactly)

1 km/h = 0.27 m/s (exactly)

Relation to other measures

The benz, named in honour of Karl Benz, has been proposed as a name for one metre per second. Although it has seen some support as a practical unit, primarily from German sources, it was rejected as the SI unit of velocity and has not seen widespread use or acceptance.

The square of metres per second, or square metre per square second, is used as a unit of gravitational potential.