Foot per minute (ft/min) is a fascinating unit of speed often used in specialized fields such as HVAC (heating, ventilation, and air conditioning) systems to measure airflow and in other engineering applications. Interestingly, the roots of this unit can be traced back to the historical origins of the foot as a measurement, which dates back to ancient Egypt where the “royal foot” was utilized. Over centuries, various civilizations have adopted and adapted the foot, leading to the version we use today.
While it might seem esoteric, ft/min is crucial for ensuring precise calibrations and ensuring optimal efficiency in engineering contexts. For example, it is heavily relied upon to ensure the right amount of air changes per hour in room ventilation, directly affecting air quality and energy efficiency. Understanding and utilizing this unit connects us to a broader narrative of measurement evolution and technical precision.
Foot per second (ft/s) is a unit commonly used to measure velocity, particularly in the United States. It’s fascinating to note that this unit offers a unique perspective on speed, especially when compared to more universal units like meters per second. For instance, the speed of sound travels at approximately 1,125 feet per second, illustrating just how fast sound waves can move. Moreover, this unit is an essential part of the British Imperial and U.S. customary systems, embodying the historical evolution of measurement standards.
Interestingly, foot per second was also a critical measure in ancient construction and engineering, where precision in the rate of stone placement or water flow impacted architectural marvels. Today, it’s frequently applied in sports science to analyze athletic performances, such as a sprinter’s burst off the starting blocks or the flight speed of a baseball pitcher’s throw. This unit continues to bridge past engineering feats with modern technological applications, providing a unique linkage of history and contemporary science.
| Feet per minute | Feet per second |
|---|---|
0
ft/min
|
0
ft/s
|
10
ft/min
|
0.166666
ft/s
|
20
ft/min
|
0.333332
ft/s
|
30
ft/min
|
0.499999
ft/s
|
40
ft/min
|
0.666665
ft/s
|
50
ft/min
|
0.833331
ft/s
|
60
ft/min
|
0.999997
ft/s
|
70
ft/min
|
1.16666
ft/s
|
80
ft/min
|
1.33333
ft/s
|
90
ft/min
|
1.5
ft/s
|
100
ft/min
|
1.66666
ft/s
|
110
ft/min
|
1.83333
ft/s
|
120
ft/min
|
2
ft/s
|
130
ft/min
|
2.16666
ft/s
|
140
ft/min
|
2.33333
ft/s
|
150
ft/min
|
2.5
ft/s
|
160
ft/min
|
2.66666
ft/s
|
170
ft/min
|
2.83333
ft/s
|
180
ft/min
|
3
ft/s
|
190
ft/min
|
3.16666
ft/s
|
200
ft/min
|
3.33332
ft/s
|
210
ft/min
|
3.5
ft/s
|
220
ft/min
|
3.66666
ft/s
|
230
ft/min
|
3.83332
ft/s
|
240
ft/min
|
4
ft/s
|
250
ft/min
|
4.16665
ft/s
|
260
ft/min
|
4.33332
ft/s
|
270
ft/min
|
4.5
ft/s
|
280
ft/min
|
4.66665
ft/s
|
290
ft/min
|
4.83332
ft/s
|
300
ft/min
|
5
ft/s
|
310
ft/min
|
5.16665
ft/s
|
320
ft/min
|
5.33332
ft/s
|
330
ft/min
|
5.5
ft/s
|
340
ft/min
|
5.66665
ft/s
|
350
ft/min
|
5.83332
ft/s
|
360
ft/min
|
6
ft/s
|
370
ft/min
|
6.16665
ft/s
|
380
ft/min
|
6.33331
ft/s
|
390
ft/min
|
6.5
ft/s
|
400
ft/min
|
6.66665
ft/s
|
410
ft/min
|
6.83331
ft/s
|
420
ft/min
|
7
ft/s
|
430
ft/min
|
7.16665
ft/s
|
440
ft/min
|
7.33331
ft/s
|
450
ft/min
|
7.5
ft/s
|
460
ft/min
|
7.66664
ft/s
|
470
ft/min
|
7.83331
ft/s
|
480
ft/min
|
8
ft/s
|
490
ft/min
|
8.16664
ft/s
|
500
ft/min
|
8.33331
ft/s
|
510
ft/min
|
8.5
ft/s
|
520
ft/min
|
8.66664
ft/s
|
530
ft/min
|
8.83331
ft/s
|
540
ft/min
|
9
ft/s
|
550
ft/min
|
9.16664
ft/s
|
560
ft/min
|
9.33331
ft/s
|
570
ft/min
|
9.5
ft/s
|
580
ft/min
|
9.66664
ft/s
|
590
ft/min
|
9.8333
ft/s
|
600
ft/min
|
10
ft/s
|
610
ft/min
|
10.16664
ft/s
|
620
ft/min
|
10.3333
ft/s
|
630
ft/min
|
10.5
ft/s
|
640
ft/min
|
10.66664
ft/s
|
650
ft/min
|
10.8333
ft/s
|
660
ft/min
|
11
ft/s
|
670
ft/min
|
11.16663
ft/s
|
680
ft/min
|
11.3333
ft/s
|
690
ft/min
|
11.5
ft/s
|
700
ft/min
|
11.66663
ft/s
|
710
ft/min
|
11.8333
ft/s
|
720
ft/min
|
12
ft/s
|
730
ft/min
|
12.16663
ft/s
|
740
ft/min
|
12.3333
ft/s
|
750
ft/min
|
12.5
ft/s
|
760
ft/min
|
12.66663
ft/s
|
770
ft/min
|
12.8333
ft/s
|
780
ft/min
|
13
ft/s
|
790
ft/min
|
13.16663
ft/s
|
800
ft/min
|
13.33329
ft/s
|
810
ft/min
|
13.5
ft/s
|
820
ft/min
|
13.66663
ft/s
|
830
ft/min
|
13.83329
ft/s
|
840
ft/min
|
14
ft/s
|
850
ft/min
|
14.16663
ft/s
|
860
ft/min
|
14.33329
ft/s
|
870
ft/min
|
14.5
ft/s
|
880
ft/min
|
14.66662
ft/s
|
890
ft/min
|
14.83329
ft/s
|
900
ft/min
|
15
ft/s
|
910
ft/min
|
15.16662
ft/s
|
920
ft/min
|
15.33329
ft/s
|
930
ft/min
|
15.5
ft/s
|
940
ft/min
|
15.66662
ft/s
|
950
ft/min
|
15.83329
ft/s
|
960
ft/min
|
16
ft/s
|
970
ft/min
|
16.16662
ft/s
|
980
ft/min
|
16.33329
ft/s
|
990
ft/min
|
16.5
ft/s
|
1000
ft/min
|
16.66662
ft/s
|
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