What is the equivalent of 1 nautical mile in feet?

A nautical mile is defined as the distance corresponding to one minute of arc along a meridian and is particularly useful in maritime and aviation contexts. To understand why 1 nautical mile is equivalent to 6,076.1 feet, it's helpful to see how this measurement is derived from the geographic coordinate system.

1 nautical mile is equal to 1,852 meters. To convert this distance into feet, we can utilize the known conversion factor that 1 meter is approximately equal to 3.28084 feet. By performing the calculation:

1,852 meters × 3.28084 feet/meter = 6,076.1 feet.

This conversion is crucial for navigation as it allows sailors and aviators to accurately determine distances over the Earth's surface, which is measured in nautical miles. The use of nautical miles instead of statute miles is due to the curvature of the Earth, making nautical miles a more relevant unit for measuring distances that account for this curvature.

Therefore, the correct equivalence of 1 nautical mile is indeed 6,076.1 feet, which reflects the distance that aligns with the Earth's latitude and longitude measurements.