What is the speed equivalent of 1 knot in miles per hour?

• A. 0.75 mph
• B. 1 mph
• C. 1.15 mph
• D. 2 mph

Answer: (C)

To understand why 1 knot is equivalent to approximately 1.15 miles per hour, it's useful to know the definitions involved. A knot is a unit of speed commonly used in maritime and air navigation, defined as one nautical mile per hour. A nautical mile is based on the circumference of the Earth and is equal to 1,852 meters.

To convert knots to miles per hour, we use the conversion between nautical miles and statute miles (the miles commonly used on land), where one statute mile equals approximately 1,609.34 meters.

The conversion can be approached as follows:

1. There are 1,852 meters in a nautical mile and 1,609.34 meters in a statute mile.

2. To convert knots to miles per hour:

( \text{Speed in mph} = \text{Speed in knots} \times \frac{1,852}{1,609.34} )

3. Simplifying the values gives:

( \text{Speed in mph} \approx 1.15 \text{ mph} )

Thus, this calculation shows that 1 knot is indeed approximately 1.15 miles per hour, which aligns with the correct answer. Knowing this conversion factor