How to Calculate Miles Per Second

While miles per hour is the traditional measure of speed in the English standard measuring system, it is sometimes necessary to apply a different measuring standard for high-speed objects. When an object passes a certain threshold, expressing its speed may be easier in miles per second than it would be in miles per hour. Calculating miles per second is done through a similar formula as miles per hour.

Instructions

1. Write down the total distance traveled by the object in miles. As an example, if a rocket flies 2000 miles, your value would be 2000.

2. Write down the number that indicates the minute duration of the trip. Continuing the example, imagine the rocket traveled for 20 minutes.

3. Multiply the total number of minutes by 60, as there are 60 seconds in a minute. If the rocket flew for 20 minutes, that times 60 is 1200 seconds. The rocket flew 2000 miles in 1200 seconds.

4. Divide the total distance traveled by the total number of seconds. 2000 divided by 1200 equals 1.67 miles per second, rounded up. Therefore, in this example, the rocket traveled at a rate of 1.67 miles per second.

References

• Math Forum: Distance, Rate, and Time

Resources

• Unitarium: Speed Units Converter