Do you want to know how fast you can run? Then you have to divide the distance you run (in metres or kilometres) by the time you took (in seconds or hours). Or get our computer to calculate it.
To reach your top speed, it helps if you don’t start from a standstill at the start line. You need time to accelerate. Choose an animal to race against, step back a bit and take a run-up. 3…2…1… GO!
Animal | Top speed | Runs 10 metres in |
| Leopard tortoise (fastest tortoise on land) | 1.01 | 35.7 |
| Missouri tarantula | 1.92 | 18.8 |
| Brown rat | 9.7 | 3.71 |
| Black mamba (fastest snake on land) | 16 | 2.25 |
| Australian crocodile (fastest crocodile on land) | 17 | 2.12 |
| Usain Bolt (fastest man on land) | 44.7 | 0.81 |
| Cheetah (fastest mammal on land) | 98 | 0.37 |
Speed of rollercoasters
The Formula Rossa rollercoaster in Abu Dhabi is the fastest in the world. In such a carriage you whizz along the rails at up to 240 km per hour.
