How Fast is a Knot?

Date: 12/21/95 at 16:1:12
From: Anonymous
Subject: What is a knot?  It is a speed.  How fast is it?

Dear Dr. Math,

Ships travel in knots (which is a speed).  How fast is a knot?

Date: 12/21/95 at 16:37:5
From: Doctor Sarah
Subject: Re: What is a knot?  It is a speed.  How fast is it?

Hi there -

A knot is a unit of speed equivalent to one nautical mile per 
hour.  When a ship goes eight nautical miles an hour, her 
speed is eight knots.  

Now you need to know about nautical miles, right?  :-)  One 
international nautical mile (nmi) is:
exactly 1.852 kilometers, or 
about 1.150779 survey miles, or 
about 6,076.11549 feet.

-Doctor Sarah,  The Geometry Forum