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Typical speeds in everyday life

Knowing typical speeds helps you check that an answer is sensible. In physics we give speeds in metres per second (m/s). A person walking moves at about 1.5 m/s, a runner at about 3 m/s and a cyclist at about 6 m/s.

Vehicles are faster. A car driving along an ordinary road travels at about 25 m/s, a train at about 50 m/s and a passenger jet at about 250 m/s. A gentle wind blows at about 5 m/s, while a strong storm wind can pass 20 m/s.

The speed of sound in air is about 330 m/s. This is much faster than a car or a train, and a little faster than a jet cruising at 250 m/s.

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