How to Convert Feet/Second to Miles/Hour

Step-by-Step Guide

1. 1

   Step 1: Set up the rate as a ratio or fraction.

   The fraction will have feet in the numerator and seconds in the denominator.
   
   The number of feet per second should be given to you.
   
   The rate should be per second, so you should have a 1 in the denominator.For example if you are converting 500 feet per second to miles per hour, your ratio will look like this:500feet1second{\displaystyle {\frac {500{\text{feet}}}{1{\text{second}}}}}.
2. 2

   Step 2: Convert the number of feet to miles.

   There are 5,280 feet in a mile.So, to convert, divide the number of feet by 5,280.
   
   Rewrite your ratio in terms of miles per second.
   
   For example, if you are converting 500 feet per second, you would calculate 5005,280=.095{\displaystyle {\frac {500}{5,280}}=.095}.
   
   So, your new ratio is .095miles1second{\displaystyle {\frac {.095{\text{miles}}}{1{\text{second}}}}}. , This is the conversion of 1 second to hours, found by dividing 1 by 3,600 since there are 3,600 seconds in 1 hour.
   
   For example, your new ratio is .095miles.00028hours{\displaystyle {\frac {.095{\text{miles}}}{.00028{\text{hours}}}}}. , This means the rate of miles per 1 hour.
   
   To do this, divide the numerator of the fraction by the denominator.For example, .095miles.00028hours=339.29miles1hour{\displaystyle {\frac {.095{\text{miles}}}{.00028{\text{hours}}}}={\frac {339.29{\text{miles}}}{1{\text{hour}}}}}.
   
   So, 500 feet per second converts to
   339.29 mph.
3. 3

   Step 3: Change the value in the denominator to .00028 hours.

4. 4

   Step 4: Convert to the unit rate.

Detailed Guide

About the Author