Comparing Speeds

  • The growth rate of some bamboo (3 ft/day)		0.0000237

    The growth rate of some bamboo (3 ft/day) 0.0000237

  • The tip of a 1/3-in-long hour hand on a wristwatch	  0.00000275

    The tip of a 1/3-in-long hour hand on a wristwatch 0.00000275

  • Garden snail  	0.03

    Garden snail 0.03

  • Three-toed sloth  	0.15

    Three-toed sloth 0.15

  • Giant tortoise  	0.17

    Giant tortoise 0.17

  • Spider  	1.17

    Spider 1.17

  • The average current of the Mississippi River.		3

    The average current of the Mississippi River. 3

  • Chicken  	9

    Chicken 9

  • Pig 	11

    Pig 11

  • Squirrel  	12

    Squirrel 12

  • The average speed of Roger Bannister 	15

    The average speed of Roger Bannister 15

  • Black mamba snake  	20

    Black mamba snake 20

  • The fastest passenger elevator 	23

    The fastest passenger elevator 23

  • Elephant  	25

    Elephant 25

  • Cat 	30

    Cat 30

  • Grizzly bear  	30

    Grizzly bear 30

  • Wart hog   	30

    Wart hog 30

  • Giraffe   	32

    Giraffe 32

  • Rabbit   	35

    Rabbit 35

  • Greyhound   	39

    Greyhound 39

  • Coyote   	43

    Coyote 43

  • Elk   	45

    Elk 45

  • Horse   	48

    Horse 48

  • Thompson's gazelle  	50

    Thompson's gazelle 50

  • Lion   	50

    Lion 50

  • The "Beast" roller coaster,		65

    The "Beast" roller coaster, 65

  • Cheetah  	70

    Cheetah 70

  • Speed of ball in world's fastest recorded pitch 		100

    Speed of ball in world's fastest recorded pitch 100

  • Fastest tennis serve  by Andy Roddick, USA.		155

    Fastest tennis serve by Andy Roddick, USA. 155

  • Fastest downhill skier.   	156

    Fastest downhill skier. 156

  • Free Fall Skydiving    185

    Free Fall Skydiving 185

  • The speed of a nerve impulse 	205

    The speed of a nerve impulse 205

  • Peregrine falcon  	217

    Peregrine falcon 217

  • Fastest tornado wind speed.		318

    Fastest tornado wind speed. 318

  • Top speed of a formula one race car.		350

    Top speed of a formula one race car. 350

  • World’s fastest train, the TGV in France.		358

    World’s fastest train, the TGV in France. 358

  • The speed of sound at sea level at 68 degrees F.	758

    The speed of sound at sea level at 68 degrees F. 758

  • The fastest aircraft, the Lockheed SR-71.	2,193

    The fastest aircraft, the Lockheed SR-71. 2,193

  • The speed of a bullet        2,250

    The speed of a bullet 2,250

  • The highest man-made spinning speed 	4,500

    The highest man-made spinning speed 4,500

  • The speed reached by the space shuttle Columbia.		16,700

    The speed reached by the space shuttle Columbia. 16,700

  • Escape velocity from the Earth.                      25,200

    Escape velocity from the Earth. 25,200

  • An Atlas SLV-3C launcher	32,114

    An Atlas SLV-3C launcher 32,114

  • The average orbital speed of the earth      	66,641

    The average orbital speed of the earth 66,641

  • The orbital speed of an electron in a uranium atom.	5,406,077

    The orbital speed of an electron in a uranium atom. 5,406,077

  • The speed of light          670,251,600

    The speed of light 670,251,600