Nautical mile

Nautical mile
Historical definition – 1 nautical mile
General information
Unit oflength
SymbolM, NM,[a] or nmi
Conversions
1 M, NM,[a] or nmi in ...... is equal to ...
   metre   1,852[1]
   foot   ≈ 6,076.11549
   statute mile   ≈ 1.15078
   cable   10

A nautical mile is a unit of length used in air, marine, and space navigation, and for the definition of territorial waters.[2][3][4] Historically, it was defined as the meridian arc length corresponding to one minute (1/60 of a degree) of latitude at the equator, so that Earth's polar circumference is very near to 21,600 nautical miles (that is 60 minutes × 360 degrees). Today the international nautical mile is defined as 1,852 metres (about 6,076 ft; 1.151 mi).[5] The derived unit of speed is the knot, one nautical mile per hour.


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  1. ^ Göbel, E.; Mills, I.M.; Wallard, Andrew, eds. (2006). The International System of Units (SI) (PDF) (8th ed.). Paris: Bureau International des Poids et Mesures. p. 127. ISBN 92-822-2213-6. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2017-08-14. Retrieved 2017-06-20.
  2. ^ Wragg, David W. (1973). A Dictionary of Aviation (first ed.). Osprey. p. 200. ISBN 9780850451634.
  3. ^ "mile | unit of measurement". Encyclopædia Britannica. Archived from the original on 2022-10-25. Retrieved 2016-06-10.
  4. ^ "UNITED NATIONS CONVENTION ON THE LAW OF THE SEA". www.un.org. Archived from the original on 2017-12-18. Retrieved 2016-06-10.
  5. ^ Wragg, David W. (1973). A Dictionary of Aviation (first ed.). Osprey. p. 200. ISBN 9780850451634.