Convert 20 Miles to Nautical Miles

Converting miles to nautical miles is essential for navigation, especially in maritime and aviation contexts. This guide will help you understand how to convert 20 miles into nautical miles easily.

Miles Definition

A mile is a unit of distance commonly used in the United States and the United Kingdom. One mile is equal to 5,280 feet or approximately 1.609 kilometers. Miles are often used to measure distances on land, such as road trips or running events.

Nautical Miles Definition

A nautical mile is a unit of measurement used in maritime and air navigation, equal to one minute of latitude. One nautical mile is approximately 1.15078 miles or 1,852 meters. Nautical miles are crucial for calculating distances over the Earth is surface, especially on navigational charts.

How to Convert 20 Miles to Nautical Miles

To convert miles to nautical miles, you can use the following formula:

Nautical Miles = Miles ÷ 1.15078

For example, to convert 20 miles to nautical miles:

Nautical Miles = 20 ÷ 1.15078 ≈ 17.39

So, 20 miles is approximately 17.39 nautical miles.

FAQs

What is the difference between miles and nautical miles?

Miles are commonly used for land distances, while nautical miles are specifically used for maritime and aerial navigation, based on the Earth is curvature.

Why are nautical miles used in navigation?

Nautical miles are used in navigation because they correspond to one minute of latitude, making it easier to calculate distances on maps that represent the Earth is spherical shape.

How many nautical miles are in a mile?

There are approximately 0.868976 nautical miles in a mile.