Sailors use “knots” instead of miles per hour (MPH) because it ties directly to nautical measurements and navigation. The term comes from an old method of measuring speed at sea: sailors would throw a rope with evenly spaced knots into the water and count how many knots passed through their hands in a given time, using sand timer clock.
One knot is equal to one nautical mile per hour, and nautical miles are different from regular miles—they’re based on the Earth’s latitude and longitude, making them more useful for maritime and aviation purposes. Since nautical charts and coordinates are measured in nautical miles, it makes sense for sailors to use knots rather than MPH to maintain consistency in navigation.
It’s a bit of maritime tradition wrapped in practical utility. Sailors have been doing things their own way for centuries!
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