20 mph converts to approximately 8.9408 meters per second.
This conversion changes miles per hour, a unit of speed, into meters per second by multiplying with a constant factor. Since 1 mph equals about 0.44704 meters per second, 20 mph is 20 times that value.
Conversion Tool
Result in meters:
Conversion Formula
The formula to convert mph to meters per second is:
meters per second = miles per hour × 0.44704
Why it works? Because one mile equals 1609.344 meters, and one hour equals 3600 seconds, so dividing meters by seconds gives the conversion factor.
Step-by-step:
- 1 mile = 1609.344 meters
- 1 hour = 3600 seconds
- 1 mph = (1609.344 meters) / (3600 seconds) ≈ 0.44704 m/s
- Therefore, 20 mph = 20 × 0.44704 = 8.9408 m/s
Conversion Example
- Example: 35 mph to meters per second
- Multiply 35 by 0.44704
- 35 × 0.44704 = 15.6464 m/s
- This means 35 mph equals about 15.6464 meters every second
- Example: 10 mph to meters per second
- 10 × 0.44704 = 4.4704 m/s
- So 10 mph converts to 4.4704 meters per second
- Example: 50 mph to meters per second
- 50 × 0.44704 = 22.352 m/s
- This shows 50 mph equals 22.352 meters per second
- Example: 0 mph to meters per second
- 0 × 0.44704 = 0 m/s
- No movement means zero meters per second
Conversion Chart
| mph | meters per second |
|---|---|
| -5.0 | -2.2352 |
| 0.0 | 0.0000 |
| 5.0 | 2.2352 |
| 10.0 | 4.4704 |
| 15.0 | 6.7056 |
| 20.0 | 8.9408 |
| 25.0 | 11.1760 |
| 30.0 | 13.4112 |
| 35.0 | 15.6464 |
| 40.0 | 17.8816 |
| 45.0 | 20.1168 |
The chart shows mph values and their equivalent meters per second. To find the meter value, locate the mph in the left column and look right. Negative mph values show speed in the opposite direction, which might be useful in physics problems.
Related Conversion Questions
- How many meters per second is 20 miles per hour exactly?
- What formula converts 20 mph to meters per second?
- Is 20 mph faster than 9 meters per second?
- How long does it take to cover 100 meters at 20 mph?
- What is the speed of 20 mph in meters per second with decimals?
- How to convert 20 mph into metric units for running speed?
- Does 20 mph equal about 8.9 meters per second or more?
Conversion Definitions
mph: Miles per hour (mph) is a unit measuring speed, commonly used in the United States and the United Kingdom. It tells how many miles are covered in one hour. It combines distance in miles and time in hours for quantifying motion speed.
meters: Meter is the base unit of length in the International System of Units (SI). It measures distance or length and equals 100 centimeters. One meter is slightly longer than a yard and widely used worldwide for scientific and everyday measurements.
Conversion FAQs
Can I convert mph directly to meters without time reference?
No, mph is a speed unit combining distance and time, miles per hour. Converting mph to meters alone is incomplete because meters measure distance only. You need to convert mph to meters per second or another speed unit to maintain the time element.
Why does the conversion factor 0.44704 appear in mph to meters per second?
The factor 0.44704 results from dividing the meters in a mile by the seconds in an hour. One mile equals 1609.344 meters, and one hour contains 3600 seconds. Dividing 1609.344 by 3600 equals approximately 0.44704 meters per second per mph.
Does converting mph to meters per second affect precision?
Conversions involve multiplying by 0.44704, which is precise enough for most uses. However, rounding errors can occur if decimals are cut off early. Keeping at least four decimal places helps maintain accuracy in measurements and calculations.
Is negative mph valid in conversions?
Negative mph can appear in some contexts like physics, indicating direction opposite to a defined positive path. When converting, negative mph gives a negative meter per second value, showing movement backward or reverse direction.
Can this conversion be used for instantaneous speed?
Yes, converting mph to meters per second works for both average and instantaneous speeds, as both are measures of how fast something moves. The formula remains the same, multiplying speed value by 0.44704 regardless of time interval.