Kilometre per hour [km/h] to Knot [knot] Converter

Definition: Kilometre per hour (km/h) is a unit of speed, expressing the number of kilometres travelled in one hour. It is commonly used for measuring the speed of vehicles, especially in countries that use the metric system.

History/origin: Kilometre per hour is derived from the metric system, based on the kilometre as a unit of distance and the hour as a unit of time. It became popular as countries adopted the metric system for standardization.

Current use: Km/h is widely used in road signage, vehicle speedometers, and weather reports in many countries. It is a practical unit for expressing speeds within a human-scale context, such as driving or cycling.

Definition: A knot is a unit of speed equal to one nautical mile per hour, where a nautical mile is approximately 1.15 statute miles (1.852 kilometers). It is primarily used in maritime and aviation contexts.

History/origin: The term 'knot' originated from the practice of sailors measuring the speed of a ship by dropping a log attached to a rope with knots tied at regular intervals into the water. The number of knots that passed over the stern of the ship in a fixed amount of time indicated the ship's speed.

Current use: Knots are used for navigation by ships and aircraft. It remains the standard unit of speed in maritime and aviation, especially for measuring wind speed, currents, and the speed of vessels at sea or in the air.