# Metre per second

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SI derived unit of speed and velocity

"m/s" redirects here. For other uses, see [m/s (disambiguation)](/source/M%2Fs_(disambiguation)).

metre per second Unit system SI Unit of speed Symbol m/s Conversions 1 m/s in ... ... is equal to ... km/h 3.6 mph 2.2369 kn 1.9438 ft/s 3.2808

The **metre per second** ([alternatively](/source/American_and_British_English_spelling_differences) spelled **meter per second**) is the unit of both [speed](/source/Speed) (a [scalar quantity](/source/Scalar_(physics))) and [velocity](/source/Velocity) (a [vector quantity](/source/Vector_(mathematics_and_physics)), which has direction and magnitude) in the [International System of Units](/source/International_System_of_Units) (SI), equal to the speed of a body covering a [distance](/source/Distance) of one [metre](/source/Metre) in a time of one [second](/source/Second). As the base unit for speed in the SI, it is commonly used in physics, mechanics, and engineering contexts. It represents both scalar speed and vector velocity, depending on context. According to the definition of metre,[1] 1 m/s is exactly ⁠1/299792458⁠ of the [speed of light](/source/Speed_of_light).

A velocity(In vector metres per second) versus time chart. It shows how the unit metre per second is often used in scientific and educational occasions.

The [SI unit](/source/International_System_of_Units) symbols are **m/s**, **m·s−1**, **m s−1**, or **⁠m/s⁠**.[2]

## Conversions

1 m/s is equivalent to:

- = 3.6 [km/h](/source/Kilometres_per_hour) (exactly)[3]

- ≈ 3.2808 [feet per second](/source/Feet_per_second) (approximately)[4]

- ≈ 2.2369 [miles per hour](/source/Miles_per_hour) (approximately)[5]

- ≈ 1.9438 [knots](/source/Knot_(unit)) (approximately)[6]

1 [foot per second](/source/Feet_per_second) = 0.3048 m/s (exactly)[7]

1 [mile per hour](/source/Miles_per_hour) = 0.44704 m/s (exactly)[8]

1 [km/h](/source/Kilometres_per_hour) = 0.27777.... m/s (exactly)[9]

## History and Standardization

The metre per second became the official SI derived unit for both speed and velocity with the establishment of the International System of Units (SI) in 1960 by the **[General Conference on Weights and Measures (CGPM)](/source/General_Conference_on_Weights_and_Measures)**.[10] Prior to this, various units such as **[feet per second](/source/Foot_per_second)**, **[miles per hour](/source/Miles_per_hour)**, and **[knots](/source/Knot_(unit))** were more commonly used, depending on the region and application.

The unit derives from the SI base units of **metre (length)** and **second (time)**, both of which were defined more precisely in the 20th century. The **metre** was originally based on the dimensions of the Earth, but is now defined by the distance light travels in vacuum in 1/299792458 of a second. The **second** is defined using the vibration frequency of caesium atoms (9192631770 oscillations per second).[11] Because of its accuracy, simplicity and preciseness, this unit is adopted as the official unit of speed and velocity and is almost always used as the unit of speed and velocity in scientific occasions.

## Relation to other measures

The **benz**, named in honour of [Karl Benz](/source/Karl_Benz), has been proposed as a name for one metre per second.[12] Although it has seen some support as a practical unit,[13] primarily from German sources,[12] it was rejected as the SI unit of velocity[14] and has not seen widespread use or acceptance.[15]

The square of metres per second, or [square metre per square second](/source/Square_metre_per_square_second), is used as a unit of [gravitational potential](/source/Gravitational_potential).

## Unicode character

The "metre per second" symbol is encoded by [Unicode](/source/Unicode) at code point U+33A7 ㎧ SQUARE M OVER S.[16]

## See also

- [Orders of magnitude (speed)](/source/Orders_of_magnitude_(speed))

- [Metre per second squared](/source/Metre_per_second_squared)

- [Metre](/source/Metre)

## References

1. **[^](#cite_ref-nist-definitions_1-0)** ["Definitions of the SI base units"](https://physics.nist.gov/cuu/Units/current.html). *physics.nist.gov*. 29 May 2019. Retrieved 8 February 2022.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-2)** ["SI brochure, Section 5.1"](https://web.archive.org/web/20190321011313/https://www.bipm.org/en/publications/si-brochure/section5-1.html). Archived from [the original](https://www.bipm.org/en/publications/si-brochure/section5-1.html) on 2019-03-21. Retrieved 2018-06-08.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-3)** CDX Automotive (2013). [*South African Automotive Light Vehicle Level 3*](https://books.google.com/books?id=Zc14AAAAQBAJ). Jones & Bartlett Learning. p. 478. [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [978-1449697853](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/978-1449697853).

1. **[^](#cite_ref-4)** Dinçer, İbrahim; Rosen, Marc A. (2007). *EXERGY: Energy, Environment and Sustainable Development*. Amsterdam: Elsevier. p. 444. [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [9780080531359](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/9780080531359). [OCLC](/source/OCLC_(identifier)) [228148217](https://search.worldcat.org/oclc/228148217).

1. **[^](#cite_ref-5)** Jazar, Reza N. (2017). *Vehicle Dynamics: Theory and Application* (3rd ed.). Cham, Switzerland: Springer. p. 957. [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [9783319534411](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/9783319534411). [OCLC](/source/OCLC_(identifier)) [988750637](https://search.worldcat.org/oclc/988750637).

1. **[^](#cite_ref-6)** Collinson, R.P.G. (2013). *Introduction to Avionics Systems* (2nd ed.). Boston: Springer Science & Business Media. p. 16. [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [9781441974662](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/9781441974662). [OCLC](/source/OCLC_(identifier)) [861706692](https://search.worldcat.org/oclc/861706692).

1. **[^](#cite_ref-7)** Potter, Merle C; Wiggert, David C; Ramadan, Bassem H. (2016). [*Mechanics of Fluids, SI Edition*](https://books.google.com/books?id=RsQaCgAAQBAJ) (5th ed.). Cengage Learning. p. 722. [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [978-1305887701](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/978-1305887701).

1. **[^](#cite_ref-8)** Das, Braja M.; Kassimali, Aslam; Sami, Sedat (2010). *Mechanics for Engineers: Statics*. Ft. Lauderdale, FL: J. Ross Publishing. p. 556. [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [9781604270297](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/9781604270297). [OCLC](/source/OCLC_(identifier)) [419827343](https://search.worldcat.org/oclc/419827343).

1. **[^](#cite_ref-9)** Wright, Gus (2015). *Fundamentals of medium/heavy duty diesel engines*. Burlington, Massachusetts: Jones & Bartlett Publishers. p. 1349. [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [9781284067057](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/9781284067057). [OCLC](/source/OCLC_(identifier)) [927104266](https://search.worldcat.org/oclc/927104266).

1. **[^](#cite_ref-10)** ["SI Brochure - BIPM"](https://web.archive.org/web/20250624073651/https://www.bipm.org/en/publications/si-brochure). *BIPM*. Archived from [the original](https://www.bipm.org/en/publications/si-brochure) on 2025-06-24. Retrieved 2025-07-04.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-11)** ["Second | COSMOS"](https://astronomy.swin.edu.au/cosmos/S/Second). *astronomy.swin.edu.au*. Retrieved 2025-07-04.

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-Klein2011_12-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-Klein2011_12-1) Klein HA. (2011). *The Science of Measurement: A Historical Survey*. Dover Publications. p. 695. [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [978-0486258393](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/978-0486258393).

1. **[^](#cite_ref-Heijungs2005_13-0)** Heijungs R. (2005). "On the Use of Units in LCA". *The International Journal of Life Cycle Assessment*. **10** (3): 174. [Bibcode](/source/Bibcode_(identifier)):[2005IJLCA..10..173H](https://ui.adsabs.harvard.edu/abs/2005IJLCA..10..173H). [doi](/source/Doi_(identifier)):[10.1065/lca2005.02.199](https://doi.org/10.1065%2Flca2005.02.199). [S2CID](/source/S2CID_(identifier)) [110961104](https://api.semanticscholar.org/CorpusID:110961104).

1. **[^](#cite_ref-Cardarelli2004_14-0)** Cardarelli F. (2004). [*Encyclopaedia of Scientific Units, Weights and Measures: Their SI Equivalences and Origins*](https://archive.org/details/encyclopaediaofs0000card/page/217). Transl. by MJ Shields. (3rd revised ed.). Springer. p. [217](https://archive.org/details/encyclopaediaofs0000card/page/217). [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [978-1852336820](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/978-1852336820).

1. **[^](#cite_ref-Dresner1974_15-0)** Dresner S. (1974). *Units of Measurement: An Encyclopaedic Dictionary of Units Both Scientific and Popular and the Quantities They Measure*. Harvey Miller and Medcalf. p. 13. [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [978-0-85602-036-0](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/978-0-85602-036-0).

1. **[^](#cite_ref-Unicode-U3300_16-0)** [Unicode Consortium](/source/Unicode_Consortium) (2019). ["The Unicode Standard 12.0 – CJK Compatibility ❰ Range: 3300—33FF ❱"](https://www.unicode.org/charts/PDF/U3300.pdf) (PDF). *Unicode.org*. Retrieved May 24, 2019.

## External links

- [Official BIPM definition of the metre](http://webarchive.loc.gov/all/20150221180343/http://www.bipm.org/en/si/si_brochure/chapter2/2-1/metre.html)

- [Official BIPM definition of the second](http://www.bipm.org/en/si/si_brochure/chapter2/2-1/second.html)

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Metre per second](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Metre_per_second) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Metre_per_second?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.