metre per second — from formula anatomyThe metre per second (m/s) is the SI unit of speed or velocity, defined as the distance in metres travelled in one second. It is the standard unit for expressing how fast something moves in physics and everyday science, replacing kilometres per hour in most technical contexts. Because it is derived directly from the base units of length and time, it appears in nearly every kinematic equation, from simple motion to relativity.
The metre per second became the official SI unit of speed when the International System of Units was established in 1960, though the metre and second were defined earlier. It was chosen for consistency with the base units rather than for convenience in daily life.
Speed is calculated by dividing the distance travelled by the time taken. One metre per second means that in each second, an object covers exactly one metre. In vector form, velocity adds direction, so 5 m/s north is different from 5 m/s south. The unit scales naturally: multiplying by 3.6 converts to kilometres per hour, and dividing by 1000 gives kilometres per second.
It is used in physics calculations, engineering design, and scientific research, such as measuring the speed of sound, light, or moving machinery.
The speed of light in a vacuum is exactly 299,792,458 metres per second, a definition fixed by the SI standard.
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