How fast is 3,100 centimeters per second?
It's about one-third as fast as an Arrow (archery)
The speed of an Arrow (archery) is about 8,967 centimeters per second.
A 250 gram arrow will reach speeds of approximately 8,967 centimeters per second when fired from a 60-lb, 28-inch draw bow . Archeological evidence from the Ahrensburg valley near Hamburg, Germany indicates that arrows have been used since at least 11 to 12,000 years ago.
It's about one-third as fast as a Porsche 911
The speed of a Porsche 911 is about 9,140 centimeters per second.
(for Porsche 911 Type 997 GT2, 2007 model)
The Porsche 911 GT2 has a top speed of 9,140 centimeters per second. It takes just 7.4 seconds for the GT2 to accelerate to 4,470 centimeters per second.
It's about three times as fast as Michael Johnson
The speed of Michael Johnson is about 1,035 centimeters per second.
(a.k.a. Michael Duane Johnson) (sprinter; 1967-) (at the Atlanta Olympics, 1996)
Setting a record that stood for 12 years, Michael Johnson ran a 200 m in 0:19.32 for an average speed of 1,035 centimeters per second at the 1996 Olympics. Johnson was nicknamed "the Man with the Golden shoes" in recognition of the custom footwear worn during these races — a pair of Nikes with a left size of 10.5 and a right size of 11.
It's about three times as fast as Usain Bolt
The speed of Usain Bolt is about 1,030 centimeters per second.
(at the Beijing Olympics, 2008) (a.k.a. Usain St. Leo Bolt, OJ, C.D.) (sprinter; 1986-)
Setting a world record, Usain Bolt ran a 100 m in 0:09.69 for an average speed of 1,030 centimeters per second at the 2008 Olympics. Furthermore, Bolt's margin of record breaking — 0.03 s — is the largest margin of victory in the history of digital measurements.
It's about one-third as fast as The CRH (train)
The speed of The CRH (train) is about 9,700 centimeters per second.
(a.k.a. Hexie Hao, 和谐号, a.k.a. 和諧號, a.k.a. Héxié Hào, a.k.a. "Harmony")
The CRH-3 train which runs on China's Beijing-Tianjin Intercity Railway are capable of speeds up to 9,700 centimeters per second. Theses train can make the 120 km (74 mi) journey from Beijing to Tianjin in about 30 minutes.
It's about three-and-a-half times as fast as Flo-Jo
The speed of Flo-Jo is about 937.20 centimeters per second.
(at the Seoul Olympics, 1998) (a.k.a. Florence Griffith-Joyner, a.k.a. Florence Delorez Griffith) (swimmer; 1959-1998)
Setting a world record in 1988, Flo-Jo ran a 200 m in 0:21.34 for an average speed of 937.20 centimeters per second. Known as a 200 m runner, Joyner also set a record time in a 100 m race at in 1987.
It's about three-tenths as fast as a Peregrine Falcon
The speed of a Peregrine Falcon is about 10,800 centimeters per second.
(a.k.a. Peregrine, a.k.a. Duck Hawk, Falco peregrinus)
The Peregrine Falcon can reach speeds of up to 10,800 centimeters per second when diving. Falcons are sometimes sent to scare smaller birds away from airports to improve air traffic safety and were used in World War II to intercept carrier pigeons used by enemy forces.
It's about four times as fast as Noah Ngeny
The speed of Noah Ngeny is about 757.80 centimeters per second.
(in Rieti, Italy; 1999) (sprinter; 1978-)
Setting a world record at the Rieti Grand Prix in 1999, Noah Ngeny ran 1,000 m in 2:11.96 for an average speed of 757.80 centimeters per second. According to some reports, Ngeny did not begin running competitively until just three years before setting the record.
It's about four-and-a-half times as fast as a Bull
The speed of a Bull is about 670 centimeters per second.
(for animals involved in the Running of the Bulls, a.k.a. Encierro, San Fermin, Pamplona, Spain) (herd average speed)
The herd of the annual Encierro in Pamplona, Spain runs at an average speed of 670 centimeters per second. The Encierro is run annually from July 7th through July 14th and involves 42 bulls, 77 oxen, and an estimated 17,000 runners over the course of the event.
It's about eleven times as fast as a Crocodile
The speed of a Crocodile is about 270 centimeters per second.
(American Crocodile, Crocodylus acutus) (swimming speed)
An American crocodile can reach speeds in the water of up to 280 centimeters per second. On land, larger crocodiles can "gallop" when fleeing danger at speeds of up to 560 centimeters per second.
It's about one-tenth as fast as The Speed of Sound
The speed of The Speed of Sound is about 34,300 centimeters per second.
(in dry air at 20°C)
The speed of sound in dry air at 20°C (68°F) is 34,300 centimeters per second. Air is a relatively poor acoustic conductor, however, as sound will travel at speeds of between 150,000 centimeters per second to 156,000 centimeters per second in water, depending on its salinity.
It's about one-tenth as fast as a Bullet (Handgun)
The speed of a Bullet (Handgun) is about 38,400 centimeters per second.
(for .40 Smith & Wesson 135 grain Sierra JHP, VV 3N37 powder, Fed. 100 primer, Remington case) (muzzle velocity)
A 0.40 caliber Smith & Wesson bullet has a muzzle a velocity of 38,300 centimeters per second. This type of ammunition has been the standard issue round of the United States Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) since 1990.
It's about sixteen times as fast as Michael Phelps
The speed of Michael Phelps is about 194.250 centimeters per second.
(at the Beijing Olympics, 2008; 200 m freestyle) (a.k.a. Michael Fred Phelps) (swimmer; 1985-)
Setting a world record, Michael Phelps swam the 200 m freestyle in 1:42.96 for an average speed of 194.250 centimeters per second. Phelps would go on to win nine gold medals individually in the 2008 Olympics - more than all but eight of the competing nations.
It's about one-twentieth as fast as a Jet Fighter
The speed of a Jet Fighter is about 67,000 centimeters per second.
(for Lockheed Martin F-16, a.k.a. Fighting Falcon, a.k.a. Viper) (maximum speed at altitude)
An F-16's maximum speed at altitude is approximately 67,000 centimeters per second. The F-16 has a flight ceiling of approximately 15 km (9.32 mi).
It's about twenty times as fast as Walking Pedestrians (in Manhattan)
The speed of Walking Pedestrians (in Manhattan) is about 130 centimeters per second.
(Manhattan; average speed; 8,978 person-sample)
A 2006 Study by the New York City Department of City Planning found that pedestrians in that city walk at an average rate of 130 centimeters per second. Pedestrians wearing headphones, the study went on to find, walk at a slightly faster 140 centimeters per second