Mile per hour to Knot Converter

Mile per hour (mph) is a unit of speed expressing the number of miles traveled in one hour. It's the primary speed unit used in the United States and United Kingdom, providing a familiar measure for vehicle speeds and general motion in imperial systems.

Mile per hour developed with the imperial system and became standard in English-speaking countries. It provided a practical scale for measuring speeds using familiar mile distances, becoming deeply embedded in American and British transportation systems and regulations.

Mph is extensively used in the United States and United Kingdom for vehicle speed limits, automotive speedometers, weather reporting, and general speed measurements. It's standard for road signs, traffic regulations, and vehicle specifications in countries using imperial units.

A knot (kn) is a unit of speed equal to one nautical mile per hour, approximately 1.852 kilometers per hour. It's the standard speed unit for maritime and aviation navigation, based on the Earth's geometry and navigation principles.

The knot originated from maritime navigation practices where speed was measured by counting knots on a rope trailing behind a ship. It became formalized as one nautical mile per hour and was adopted as the international standard for maritime and aviation speed measurements.

Knots are universally used in maritime navigation, aviation, meteorology (wind speeds), and oceanography. They're standard for ship speeds, aircraft speeds, wind velocity reporting, and all navigation applications where geographic positioning is important.