Foot per Second (ft/s)

Definition

The foot per second (ft/s) is a unit of speed in the Imperial and US customary systems. It measures the distance in feet traveled in one second. 1 ft/s is exactly 0.3048 meters per second (m/s).

History

The foot has ancient origins, derived from the average length of a human foot. The second, as a unit of time, evolved from the division of the hour into 60 minutes, and then into 60 seconds. The combination of these units for measuring speed became standardized in the 19th century, particularly in the United States and the UK.

Uses

Foot per second is commonly used in various fields, including engineering, physics, and aviation. It is particularly prevalent in the United States for everyday speed measurements, such as vehicle speeds and athletic performance.

Conversions

• 1 ft/s = 0.3048 m/s (exact)
• 1 ft/s = 0.6818 mph (approx)
• 1 ft/s = 3.6 km/h (approx)

Fun Facts

• Many people confuse feet per second with miles per hour, leading to misinterpretation of speed.
• The foot has been officially defined since the 1959 international yard and pound agreement, standardizing it to * *0.3048 meters**.