Why do we use knots as a speed measurement unit for air and water travel?
In: Engineering
It is also kinda useful, since 1 knot is 1/60th of a degree of latitude. For things that travel far enough where you cross the lines on the globe, it can be handy.
More than anything though, it’s one of those things that’s just hard to change because it started so long ago. It goes back to ships in the 17th century. It was the unit of measure for some of the only things that went fast or far enough for us to care about how fast they were going. Pre cars, pre trains, pre airplanes. It has been engrained in aviation and boating industry since before America was a country.
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