What Is Centimeter per Second (cm/s)?
Centimeter per second is a unit that tells how fast something moves. It shows how many centimeters an object travels in one second. It is a small speed unit in the metric system, so it is good for slow movements, like water flow in a small pipe or the speed of a snail.
Definition
One centimeter per second means an object moves exactly one centimeter of distance during one second of time.
In short, it measures speed using
- centimeter as the distance
- second as the time
So
1 cm/s is the speed of moving 1 centimeter every 1 second.
History / Origin
The idea behind centimeter per second comes from the metric system and the CGS system.
- Centimeter is a metric unit of length. The metric system was first created in France in the late 1700s to make measuring simple and standard for everyone.
- Second is a basic unit of time that has been used for a very long time in science and daily life.
- CGS system stands for centimeter, gram, second. In this older system of physics, scientists often used centimeter per second as the main unit of speed.
Today, the main world system is SI, which uses meter per second more often. Still, centimeter per second is kept and used in some kinds of science and engineering, especially where distances are small.
Symbol & Abbreviation
The common symbol for centimeter per second is
- cm/s
You may also see it written in science books as
- cm s−1 which means centimeters per one second
All of these mean the same unit of speed. The most friendly form for simple use is cm/s.
Current Use Around the World
Centimeter per second is not the most common speed unit in daily life, but it is still useful in many areas.
In daily life
- People do not use cm/s for driving or walking speed.
- Most countries use kilometers per hour for road speeds.
- Some devices or apps that show very slow speeds might use cm/s.
In science and engineering
- Physics and old CGS based formulas may use cm/s as the standard speed unit.
- Ocean studies may show water current speed in cm/s for slow flows.
- Medical and lab devices, for example blood flow in small tubes, can use cm/s.
- Robotics and small machines may measure movement of parts in cm/s.
- Computer games or simulations sometimes use cm/s inside the code to control movement.
Even though meter per second is the main SI speed unit, centimeter per second is still handy when the distances are small and need fine detail.
Example Conversions
Here are some useful conversions that connect cm/s with other speed units.
Between cm/s and m/s
- 1 meter equals 100 centimeters.
- So 1 cm/s is one hundredth of a meter per second.
Formulas
- To change from cm/s to m/s
m/s = cm/s ÷ 100 - To change from m/s to cm/s
cm/s = m/s × 100
Examples
- 50 cm/s = 50 ÷ 100 = 0.5 m/s
- 200 cm/s = 200 ÷ 100 = 2 m/s
- 3 m/s = 3 × 100 = 300 cm/s
Between cm/s and km/h
- 1 m/s = 3.6 km/h
- 1 cm/s = 0.01 m/s
So
- 1 cm/s = 0.01 × 3.6 = 0.036 km/h
Formulas
- To change from cm/s to km/h
km/h = cm/s × 0.036 - To change from km/h to cm/s
cm/s = km/h ÷ 0.036
Examples
- 10 cm/s = 10 × 0.036 = 0.36 km/h
- 100 cm/s = 100 × 0.036 = 3.6 km/h
Between cm/s and miles per hour mph
- 1 m/s is about 2.23694 mph
- 1 cm/s = 0.01 m/s
So
- 1 cm/s is about 0.0224 mph
Formulas
- To change from cm/s to mph
mph ≈ cm/s × 0.0224 - To change from mph to cm/s
cm/s ≈ mph ÷ 0.0224
Examples
- 50 cm/s ≈ 50 × 0.0224 ≈ 1.12 mph
- 200 cm/s ≈ 200 × 0.0224 ≈ 4.48 mph
Related Units
Centimeter per second is one of many units used to measure speed. Here are some related ones.
- Meter per second m/s the main SI speed unit, used a lot in physics and science.
- Kilometer per hour km/h common for car speed and road signs in most countries.
- Mile per hour mph used for road speed mainly in the United States and a few other places.
- Foot per second ft/s a speed unit based on feet, used in some engineering fields.
- Knot kn used in ships and planes, one knot is one nautical mile per hour.
All these units measure the same idea, how fast something moves. They just use different distance and time units.
FAQs
What does centimeter per second cm/s measure exactly
Centimeter per second measures speed. It tells how many centimeters an object moves in one second. A higher value means the object is moving faster.
Is cm/s part of the SI system
Centimeter and second are both accepted units in the SI system, but the main SI speed unit is meter per second m/s. Centimeter per second is more linked to the older CGS system, but it is still allowed and used.
Why use cm/s instead of m/s
We use cm/s when distances are small and we want fine detail. For example, very slow water flow, movement inside machines, or tiny motions in lab experiments are often easier to describe in cm/s.
How do I quickly change cm/s to m/s
To turn cm/s into m/s, divide the number by 100. For example, 75 cm/s becomes 75 ÷ 100 which is 0.75 m/s.
How do I quickly change m/s to cm/s
To turn m/s into cm/s, multiply the number by 100. For example, 1.2 m/s becomes 1.2 × 100 which is 120 cm/s.
Is cm/s used in schools
Yes, cm/s may appear in science and physics lessons, especially when learning the CGS system, motion, and basic speed formulas. However, teachers also use m/s a lot, since it is the main SI speed unit.
Can cm/s be used in real life situations
Yes. Even if it is not used for car speed, cm/s can describe slow real life movements, such as a snail moving, the slow rise of water in a tube, or the motion of a small robot arm.