Nautical Miles Compared to Miles Per Hour

Nautical Mile

• A nautical mile is used to measure distances while at sea and in the air. The mile is based on the circumference of the Earth at its equator. The planet has 360 degrees of longitude around its circumference. In order to measure a nautical mile, those 360 degrees are multiplied by 60. since each degree equals 60 minutes. Therefore, there are 21,600 nautical miles on the Earth. One nautical mile is the equivalent of 6,076 feet.

Differences

• A nautical mile is slightly larger than a regular statute mile, which has a length of 5,280 feet. According to Boat Safe, the nautical mile is about 1.15 of a regular mile. When traveling, speed is applied to either nautical or statute miles, depending on the mode of travel. Miles per hour refers to the speed at which an automobile or vehicle moves. Depending on how fast the vehicle moves, it will be able to express the number of statute miles covered in an hour.

Knot

• A knot is the unit of speed used in boats, airplanes and other nautical applications. A knot is equal to one nautical mile per hour. The knot not only measures the speed of the vessel, but it also measures external forces that act against the ship. For example, speeds of the wind and water currents are also measured in knots. The term is derived from the old method of measuring a ship's speed by using a knotted cord called the log line.

Use of Miles

• The use of miles as a unit of measurement is used primarily in the United States and the United Kingdom. Other countries use the metric system (meters and kilometers) as their unit of measuring distance and speed.