How fast is 8,900 centimeters per second?
It's about one-fourth 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 four times as fast as a Gazelle
The speed of a Gazelle is about 2,000 centimeters per second.
(for Thomson's Gazelle, a.k.a. Eudorcas thomsoni, a.k.a. "Tommie", a.k.a. "Tommy")
A Thomson's gazelle can reach speeds of up to 2,000 centimeters per second. The gazelle's speed doesn't match that of its chief predator, the cheetah, but a gazelle's endurance usually ensures an escape in distances greater than 500 m (0.3 mi).
It's about four times as fast as a Hare
The speed of a Hare is about 2,000 centimeters per second.
(for European Brown Hare, a.k.a. Brown Hare, a.k.a. Lepus europaeus, a.k.a. Brown Hare)
The European Hare can run at speeds of up to 2,000 centimeters per second. While speed is a factor in their escapes, hares evade their chief predators — wolves, foxes, and golden eagles — by fleeing in a zigzag pattern.
It's about one-fourth 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 four-and-a-half times as fast as a Greyhound
The speed of a Greyhound is about 2,010 centimeters per second.
(a.k.a. English greyhound) (approximate maximum speed)
Greyhounds reach average race speeds of 2,010 centimeters per second. Despite their racing prowess, greyhounds are not considered energetic dogs — the typical greyhound race requires the dogs to run for less than 35 seconds.
It's about five-and-a-half times as fast as Secretariat
The speed of Secretariat is about 1,680 centimeters per second.
(at Belmont Stakes, 1973)
Setting a record finish, Secretariat ran the Belmont Stakes — a 12 furlong race length — in 2:24, for an average speed of 1,680 centimeters per second in 1973. His margin of victory in the race, also a record-setter, was 31 lengths.
It's about one-tenth 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 eight-and-a-half 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 eight-and-a-half 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 nine-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 one-tenth as fast as a Bullet (Rifle)
The speed of a Bullet (Rifle) is about 91,500 centimeters per second.
(5.56 x 45 mm, a.k.a. 5.56 NATO)
A 5.56 x 45 mm cartridge is fired at a velocity of 91,500 centimeters per second. As the NATO rifle cartridge, it is used by the military forces of more than thirty-one countries, including use in the M16 series, M4 Carbine, HK-416, and M249 Squad automatic weapons used by the United States armed forces.
It's about eleven-and-a-half 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 thirteen 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 thirty 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 45 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.