10 miles per hour
4.47 m/sSpeed · definition
The quantity is exact as entered. Comparisons use the clearly stated specimen, model or nominal measurement.
Speed
Just how fast is 10 miles per hour?
On foot
10 mph
DISTANCE IN ONE SECOND
10 miles per hour
The quantity is exact as entered.
4.47 m/sSpeed
0
4.47 m in 1 s
Polynesian outrigger canoe
A Polynesian outrigger canoe is a traditional sailing vessel with a main hull and a lateral float for stability, used for navigation across the Pacific.
4 m/sDefined sailing speed
0
4 m in 1 s
Each track shows distance covered in the same second. The small illustrations identify the movers; their sizes are schematic.
A little perspective
10 miles per hour is about 1.12 times the sailing speed of a Polynesian outrigger canoe.
Measurements, assumptions & sources +
10 miles per hour
Speed: 4.47 m/s; definition.
The quantity is exact as entered. Comparisons use the clearly stated specimen, model or nominal measurement.
Polynesian outrigger canoe
Defined sailing speed: 4 m/s; defined specimen; range 2.5 m/s–6 m/s.
A defined single-outrigger Polynesian sailing canoe with an 8.7 m main hull, 180 kg rigged mass and 4 m/s sailing pace. Traditional forms vary by island, purpose and construction; hull length excludes steering paddles.
Smithsonian Ocean — Polynesian voyaging
The marked defined sailing speed is calibrated. Unmeasured illustration details are representative.
Measurement details
Why these numbers?
Compare 10 miles per hour with the sailing speed of a Polynesian outrigger canoe. The notes below explain how each value was chosen.
Polynesian outrigger canoe
4 m/sDefined sailing speed · defined specimen · range 2.5 m/s–6 m/s
A defined single-outrigger Polynesian sailing canoe with an 8.7 m main hull, 180 kg rigged mass and 4 m/s sailing pace. Traditional forms vary by island, purpose and construction; hull length excludes steering paddles.
- Comparing
- Speed ↔ Defined sailing speed
- Relative size
- 10 miles per hour is about 1.12 times the sailing speed of a Polynesian outrigger canoe. 10 miles per hour is approximately 11.8% greater than the sailing speed of a Polynesian outrigger canoe.
How to read the visual
The diagram uses the recorded measurements. Details outside the marked spans do not set the scale.
- We use 4 m/s for the sailing speed of a Polynesian outrigger canoe; the recorded range is 2.5 m/s–6 m/s.
- The sailing speed of a Polynesian outrigger canoe: This is an illustrative comparison value, not a claim that every example is the same.
- The recorded ranges overlap, so the ordering can vary even though the central values differ.
Speed is distance per unit time; it does not specify the total distance travelled.
4.4704 m/smetres per second
16.093 km/hkilometres per hour
Mach 0.013033Mach
1.4912 × 10⁻⁶% of c (1.4912 × 10⁻⁸c)speed of light
Change your perspective
Put it next to…
Choose a suggestion to redraw the comparison, or open its page to learn what it is.
A little smaller. A little larger.