Physics
Kilometres per hour to metres per second
Divide by 3.6, the exact number of kilometres per hour in one metre per second. Multiply to go the other way.
The Formula
v(m/s) = v(km/h) / 3.6
Divide by 3.6, the exact number of kilometres per hour in one metre per second. Multiply to go the other way.
| Symbol | Meaning | Unit | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| v(km/h) | Speed in kilometres per hour | kilometres per hour | The everyday road-speed unit. |
| 3.6 | Kilometres per hour in one metre per second | dimensionless | Exact, from the definitions of the metre and the second. |
| v(m/s) | Speed in metres per second | metres per second | The SI unit of speed. |
What Each Symbol Means
v(km/h)kilometres per hour
Speed in kilometres per hour
The everyday road-speed unit.
3.6dimensionless
Kilometres per hour in one metre per second
Exact, from the definitions of the metre and the second.
v(m/s)metres per second
Speed in metres per second
The SI unit of speed.
See It Worked With Real Numbers
A formula on its own does not tell you which number goes where. The how to calculate speed page applies this equation to a concrete case, shows every intermediate step, and names the mistakes that produce a wrong answer even when the algebra is right.
Where This Formula Appears
This equation is the working core of How To Calculate Speed, filed under Science. Every number the guide produces comes from substituting into this one line.