Convert Mach (SI Standard) (Ma) to Walking Speed (walk) 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.
Walking Speed (walk)
The average human walking speed is about 1.2–1.4 m/s (4–5 km/h), though this varies with fitness, terrain, age, and purpose. Walking is an energy-efficient mode of locomotion optimized through millions of years of evolution. Humans unconsciously adjust stride frequency, step length, and posture to maintain stability and minimize metabolic cost. Urban planning, pedestrian-safety engineering, and architecture all use walking-speed estimates to design sidewalks, crosswalk timing, and public transportation access. Walking speed is not merely a physical measure—it reflects physiology, psychology, and cultural context.