The speed of 1604 fps is approximately 1.2263 Mach.
This conversion is based on the fact that Mach number is the ratio of an object’s speed to the speed of sound in the medium. Since the speed of sound varies with temperature and altitude but is approximately 1,225 km/h at sea level, converting fps to Mach involves first converting fps to km/h and then dividing by the speed of sound.
Conversion Result and Explanation
Converting 1604 fps to Mach gives about 1.2263. To understand how this is calculated, remember that 1 foot per second equals approximately 1.097 km/h. The Mach number is calculated by dividing the speed in km/h by the speed of sound in km/h at the given conditions.
Conversion Tool
Result in mach:
Conversion Formula
The formula to convert fps to Mach involves two steps. First, convert fps to km/h by multiplying the fps value by 1.097. Then, divide the result by 1225 km/h, which is the approximate speed of sound at sea level. This works because Mach is a ratio of speeds.
For example, converting 1604 fps: 1604 * 1.097 = 1758.788 km/h. Then, 1758.788 / 1225 ≈ 1.436. So, 1604 fps roughly equals 1.436 Mach.
Conversion Example
- Convert 1000 fps:
- Step 1: 1000 * 1.097 = 1097 km/h
- Step 2: 1097 / 1225 ≈ 0.895
So, 1000 fps equals approximately 0.895 Mach.
- Convert 2000 fps:
- Step 1: 2000 * 1.097 = 2194 km/h
- Step 2: 2194 / 1225 ≈ 1.79
This means 2000 fps is roughly 1.79 Mach.
- Convert 500 fps:
- Step 1: 500 * 1.097 = 548.5 km/h
- Step 2: 548.5 / 1225 ≈ 0.448
Therefore, 500 fps is about 0.448 Mach.
Conversion Chart
The table below shows conversions of fps values from 1579 to 1629 into Mach. To read the chart, find your fps value in the first column and see the corresponding Mach in the second column. It helps quickly estimate speeds without calculations.
| fps | Mach |
|---|---|
| 1579 | 1.371 |
| 1589 | 1.381 |
| 1599 | 1.391 |
| 1609 | 1.402 |
| 1619 | 1.412 |
| 1629 | 1.422 |
Related Conversion Questions
- How fast is 1604 fps in miles per hour?
- What is the Mach equivalent of 1604 fps at high altitude?
- Can 1604 fps be considered supersonic?
- How does temperature affect the Mach number for 1604 fps?
- Is 1604 fps faster than sound in different mediums?
- What is the conversion of 1604 fps to knots?
- How accurate is the 1.097 km/h per fps conversion factor?
Conversion Definitions
fps (feet per second): a measure of speed indicating how many feet an object travels in one second, used in various fields like ballistics, sports, and physics to describe velocity.
Mach: a ratio indicating an object’s speed relative to the local speed of sound in the surrounding medium, used mainly to classify aircraft speeds as subsonic, transonic, or supersonic.
Conversion FAQs
How does altitude influence the speed of sound and Mach number?
The speed of sound decreases with altitude due to lower temperatures; at higher elevations, 1 Mach corresponds to a lower km/h or fps speed, making the same velocity a higher Mach number than at sea level.
Can Mach number be used in water or only in air?
Mach is primarily used in aeronautics where the speed of sound varies with the medium. In water, the concept is less common; instead, speed ratios relative to sound in water are used but not typically called Mach.
Why is it important to know the Mach number instead of just fps?
Mach number provides context about whether an object is supersonic or subsonic, which is critical for aerodynamics, safety, and engineering considerations, unlike fps which only measures raw velocity.
What is the typical speed of sound used in these conversions?
The standard speed of sound at sea level and at 15°C is approximately 1225 km/h or about 1070 fps, but it varies with temperature and altitude, affecting Mach calculations.
How do I convert Mach back to fps?
Multiply the Mach number by the local speed of sound in fps. For example, if the speed of sound is 1070 fps, then Mach 1 equals 1070 fps, so multiply Mach by this value to get fps.