Kilometers Per Second To Mach Conversion

km/s

1 km/s = 2.91545 Ma

Want to convert from mach to kilometers per second instead?

Disclaimer: We've spent hundreds of hours building and testing our calculators and conversion tools. However, we cannot be held liable for any damages or losses (monetary or otherwise) arising out of or in connection with their use. Full disclaimer.

How to convert kilometers per second to mach (km/s to Ma)

The formula for converting kilometers per second to mach is: Ma = km/s × 2.91545. To calculate the kilometer per second value in mach first substitute the kilometer per second value into the preceding formula, and then perform the calculation. If we wanted to calculate 1 kilometer per second in mach we follow these steps:

Ma = km/s × 2.91545

Ma = 1 × 2.91545

Ma = 2.91545

In other words, 1 kilometer per second is equal to 2.91545 mach.


Example Conversion

Let's take a look at an example. The step-by-step process to convert 3 kilometers per second to mach is:

  1. Understand the conversion formula: Ma = km/s × 2.91545
  2. Substitute the required value. In this case we substitute 3 for km/s so the formula becomes: Ma = 3 × 2.91545
  3. Calculate the result using the provided values. In our example the result is: 3 × 2.91545 = 8.74635 Ma

In summary, 3 kilometers per second is equal to 8.74635 mach.


Converting mach to kilometers per second

In order to convert the other way around i.e. mach to kilometers per second, you would use the following formula: km/s = Ma × 0.343000222950145. To convert mach to kilometers per second first substitute the mach value into the above formula, and then execute the calculation. If we wanted to calculate 1 mach in kilometers per second we follow these steps:

km/s = Ma × 0.343000222950145

km/s = 1 × 0.343000222950145

km/s = 0.343000222950145

Or in other words, 1 mach is equal to 0.343000222950145 kilometers per second.


Conversion Unit Definitions

What is a Kilometer Per Second?

Kilometers per second (km/s) is a unit of linear velocity measurement. It represents the rate at which an object or particle travels a distance of one kilometer in one second. Kilometers per second is commonly used to quantify high speeds or rapid rates of movement.
To provide a detailed example of kilometers per second, let's consider a spacecraft traveling through space. If the spacecraft covers a distance of 10 kilometers in one second, then its velocity would be 10 km/s. This means that the spacecraft is moving at a speed of 10 kilometers per second.
Kilometers per second is often used in the field of astronomy, particularly when discussing the velocities of celestial objects, such as planets, comets, or stars. It allows astronomers to describe the rapid movements and orbital velocities of these objects.
In the field of physics and engineering, kilometers per second can also be relevant for analyzing high-speed motion, such as projectiles, missiles, or particles in particle accelerators. It enables scientists and engineers to quantify and study the velocities of these fast-moving entities.
It's important to note that kilometers per second can be converted to other units of velocity. For example, 1 km/s is approximately equal to 1000 meters per second (m/s) or 2236.94 miles per hour (mph).
In summary, kilometers per second (km/s) is a unit of linear velocity measurement, representing the rate at which an object or particle travels a distance of one kilometer in one second. It is commonly used to quantify high speeds or rapid rates of movement in astronomy, physics, and engineering. Kilometers per second provides a convenient unit for describing the velocities of celestial objects, high-speed projectiles, or particles in scientific and engineering contexts.

What is a Mach?

Mach is a unit of speed used to measure the velocity of an object relative to the speed of sound in the surrounding medium. It is named after Ernst Mach, an Austrian physicist. Mach 1 represents the speed of sound, so when an object is traveling at Mach 2, it is moving twice as fast as the speed of sound.
To provide an example, let's consider an aircraft flying at Mach 2. If the speed of sound at that altitude is approximately 343 meters per second (or about 767 miles per hour), then Mach 2 would be double that speed, or approximately 686 meters per second (or about 1,534 miles per hour). This means that the aircraft is moving at a velocity twice the speed of sound.
The speed of sound, and therefore Mach numbers, can vary depending on factors such as altitude, temperature, and humidity. For instance, at higher altitudes where the air is thinner, the speed of sound is lower, and the corresponding Mach numbers will be different.
Mach numbers are commonly used in aviation and aerospace to indicate the speed of aircraft, missiles, and spacecraft. Flying at supersonic speeds, which means speeds greater than Mach 1, has significant implications for aerodynamics and engineering design.
It's important to note that Mach numbers are a dimensionless quantity and do not have a specific unit associated with them. They represent a ratio of an object's speed to the speed of sound.
In summary, Mach is a unitless measure of speed that represents the ratio of an object's velocity to the speed of sound in the surrounding medium. When an object is traveling at Mach 1, it is moving at the speed of sound. Mach numbers are used in aviation and aerospace to indicate supersonic speeds, with higher Mach numbers denoting faster velocities relative to the speed of sound.

Kilometers Per Second To Mach Conversion Table

Below is a lookup table showing common kilometers per second to mach conversion values.

Kilometer Per Second (km/s)Mach
1 km/s2.91545 Ma
2 km/s5.8309 Ma
3 km/s8.74635 Ma
4 km/s11.6618 Ma
5 km/s14.57725 Ma
6 km/s17.4927 Ma
7 km/s20.40815 Ma
8 km/s23.3236 Ma
9 km/s26.23905 Ma
10 km/s29.1545 Ma
11 km/s32.06995 Ma
12 km/s34.9854 Ma
13 km/s37.90085 Ma

Other Common Kilometer Per Second Conversions

Below is a table of common conversions from kilometers per second to other speed units.

ConversionResult
1 kilometer per second in feet per second3281 ft/s
1 kilometer per second in kilometers per hour3600 km/h
1 kilometer per second in meters per second1000 m/s
1 kilometer per second in miles per second0.6213711922 mi/s
1 kilometer per second in miles per hour2236.9362921 mph
1 kilometer per second in speed of light0.00000333564 c