Convert Knot (kt) to Mach (20°C, 1 atm) (Ma (20°C)) instantly.
About these units
Knot (kt)
A knot is equal to one nautical mile per hour, or 1.852 km/h, and is the standard unit of speed in aviation and maritime navigation. Knots are intimately linked to navigation because nautical miles represent distances along Earth's spherical surface. A ship or aircraft traveling at 1 knot moves over one minute of arc of latitude in one hour—reflecting its origins in astronomical navigation. Using knots allows mariners and pilots to integrate seamlessly with charts, headings, coordinate systems, and wind speed conventions. The unit symbolizes centuries of seafaring tradition and remains indispensable for global navigation.
Mach (20°C, 1 atm) (Ma (20°C))
At 20°C and 1 atmosphere, the speed of sound in air is about 343 m/s, making Mach 1 = 343 m/s under those conditions. Mach numbers classify aerodynamic regimes: Mach 0.3–0.8 (Subsonic), Mach 0.8–1.2 (Transonic), Mach 1–5 (Supersonic), Mach 5+ (Hypersonic). Temperature influences Mach speed significantly; colder air slows sound, while warmer air increases its speed. Aircraft design, jet engines, wind tunnels, aerospace testing, and atmospheric re-entry physics all rely heavily on Mach numbers referenced to standard conditions.