Why is some speed (e.g. wind) expressed in “knots” and what does “1 knot” even mean logicslly?
In: 20
On boats, to calculate speed, a tool called a chip log would be used. The chip log was a long rope with knots regularly along it (wrapped around a spindle) and a large wood “chip” at the end. The chip would be thrown into the water and however many knots passed through the users hand would determine the speed.
There are various records of how far apart the knots were or how long it was timed for.
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