Convert Mach (SI Standard) (Ma) to Knot (kt) instantly.
About these units
Mach (SI Standard) (Ma)
Mach is a dimensionless measure of speed relative to the speed of sound in a given medium. Mach 1 corresponds to the speed of sound, Mach 2 is twice that speed, and so on. Mach values change with temperature, atmospheric pressure, and altitude because the speed of sound changes with these conditions. Aircraft performance, supersonic flight, rocket design, and shockwave analysis all depend heavily on Mach numbers. Mach is more than just a speed measure—it categorizes aerodynamic regimes: Subsonic (Mach < 1), Transonic (Mach 0.8–1.2), Supersonic (Mach 1–5), Hypersonic (Mach > 5). Mach numbers therefore provide insight into aerodynamic behavior, not just velocity.
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.