The Nautical mile is defined to be one angular minute (1/60 of a degree) of longitude at the equator at sea level.
The word "knot" is a measure of velocity in nautical speak... and it means "nautical mile per hour". 1 knot = 1 nautical mile / hour
The unit used for nautical mile is often times "nmi". As in, 5 nmi.
The conversion ratio between nautical miles and other more familiar units are:
1 nmi = 1.15078 statue miles (land miles) (mi)
1 mi = 0.86898 nmi
1 nmi = 6076.1155 feet (compared to the 5280 feet of the standard mile)
1 nmi = 1852 m = 1.852 km
How does one actually measure distance traveled at sea? That would be a good question. A separate question, though. And Im sure there are various answers.
In todays electronic world, we probably use GPS to measure distance traveled, by pinning down and comparing two locations: where you were and where you are.
In earlier years we undoubtedly used the sun and stars to indicate position, likely requiring a compass, maps, sextant, sundial and a mechanical clock. From this you could also approximate relative position.
I imagine boats have speedometers of a sort, too. How they mechanically work, I cannot say. But coupled with a time piece and a compass, it would be easy to compute distance traveled.
nautical mile
a nautical mile is 1.852 km and a mile is (statute)1.609344 km so a mile is bigger than a nautical mile
The word nautical miles are frequently used by mariners, seafarers, a measure of distance on a geographic map and standard of measure S.I.
A nautical unit of measure equal to one tenth of a nautical mile is known as a cable or nautical cable. In nautical terms, a cable is approximately 608 feet or 185.2 meters long. It is commonly used for measuring distances at sea, especially when referring to the depth of water.
It is a speed equivalent to one nautical mile per hour.
There can be no equivalence. A kilometre per hour is a measure of speed (or velocity) while a nautical mile is a measure of distance. The two measure different things and, according to basic principles of dimensional analysis, any attempt at conversion from one to the other is fundamentally flawed.
Miles are a measure of distance second, time. incomparable
There are 6,076 feet in a nautical mile.
1 nautical mile = 1.85200 kilometers 1 nautical mile = 1.15077945 mile
Nautical mile is usually designated by nmi. An international nautical mile is defined as 1852 meters.
I nautical mile = 1.852 kilometres.
1 nautical mile = 1.85200 kilometers