View Full Version : Oeanography - calculating velocity in knots
Suwanee
May 31, 2009, 07:55 AM
I am trying to solve the question. If the Gulf Stream flows at an average velocity of 100 centimeters per second, calculate the average velocity in knots (nautical miles). Can someone give me the formula please. Thanks.
Unknown008
May 31, 2009, 08:29 AM
1 knot is the approximately the same as 0.5144444 m/s
(See knot. Nautical. Speed Conversion Chart (http://www.convert-me.com/en/convert/units/speed/speed.knot.en.html))
So, if 0.514 m/s = 1 knot
1m/s = (1/0.514) knots = 1.94 knots
Since 1m/s = 100 cm/s,
100 cm/s = 1.94 knots
Hope it helped! :)
SailorMark
May 31, 2009, 08:34 AM
A centimeter converts to .39 inches.
There are 12 inches to the foot, and 6076 feet to the nautical mile. At 100 centimeters per second that translates to a convenient 39 inches per second (or 3 feet and 3 inches per second). Multiply that by 60 to get per minute (195 feet) and then again to get the per hour (11700). Divide this by 6076 to get the knots per hour (1.92 nautical miles per hour). This calculation is based upon your initial assumption of 100 centimeters per second and does not verify if the initial assumption is correct.
SailorMark
May 31, 2009, 12:54 PM
a centimeter converts to .39 inches.
there are 12 inches to the foot, and 6076 feet to the nautical mile. At 100 centimeters per second that translates to a convenient 39 inches per second (or 3 feet and 3 inches per second). Multiply that by 60 to get per minute (195 feet) and then again to get the per hour (11700). Divide this by 6076 to get the knots per hour (1.92 nautical miles per hour). This calculation is based upon your initial assumption of 100 centimeters per second and does not verify if the initial assumption is correct.
after seeing another post, I must caution you to use the same conversion table the teacher uses. Rounding in different tables may create a slight difference in final calculations.. I also noticed that I changed units without stating such.
.39 x 100 = 39 inches
39 inches x 60 = 2340 inches per minute
2340 x 60 = 140400 inches per hour
140400 / 12 = 11700 feet per hour
11700 / 6076 = 1.9256 nautical miles per hour.
I did the metric conversion early and did the calculations the hard way. I like the other answer, too! Use the one that best fits how your teacher taught you in the class room.
Perito
May 31, 2009, 01:11 PM
If the Gulf Stream flows at an average velocity of 100 centimeters per second, calculate the average velocity in knots (nautical miles)
1 centimeter per second = 0.0194384449 knots
Let me google that for you - Convert cm/sec to knots (http://www.lmgtfy.com/?q=convert+centimeters+per+second+to+knots)