Convert Time from Second to Minute (s to min)

Second to Minute Conversion Formula

To convert from Second (s) to Minute (min), use the following formula:

Example

Let's convert 5 Second (s) to Minute (min).

Using the formula:

Therefore, 5 Second (s) is equal to $0.083333333333333333335$ Minute (min).

What is a Second (s)?

Have you ever stopped to think about what a "second" really is?

As the base unit of time in the International System of Units (SI), the second is a fundamental part of our daily lives. But its definition has an intriguing history — from tracking the Sun's movements to measuring the vibrations of a single atom.

How Is a Second Defined Today? The Atomic Clock Standard

While we used to define a second based on the Earth's rotation around the Sun, that method wasn't precise enough for modern science.

Today, the official definition of a second is based on the incredibly consistent and reliable atomic clock.

So, what does that mean? Officially, one second is the time it takes for a caesium-133 atom to oscillate (or vibrate) exactly 9,192,631,770 times. Think of it as a tiny, perfectly predictable pendulum.

This atomic standard is far more stable than measuring the Earth's rotation, which can vary slightly.

Why Are There 60 Seconds in a Minute? A Look at Ancient History

The reason we divide minutes and hours into 60 parts dates back thousands of years to the ancient Babylonians. They used a sexagesimal (base-60) numbering system for their advanced mathematical and astronomical calculations.

This practical system was passed down through Greek and Arab scholars and was eventually adopted worldwide for two primary purposes:

• Timekeeping (hours, minutes, and seconds)
• Measuring angles (degrees)

What Is a Leap Second? Syncing Atomic Time with Earth's Rotation

If atomic clocks are so perfect, why do we sometimes need to adjust them?

The problem is that the Earth's rotation is not perfectly uniform—it can speed up or slow down by tiny fractions of a second.

This causes a slow drift between the time kept by atomic clocks (Coordinated Universal Time, or UTC) and the time based on the Earth's position relative to the Sun.

To fix this, we occasionally add a leap second — an extra second that keeps our clocks aligned with the solar day, so that sunrise and sunset occur when we expect them to.

What is a Minute (min)?

A minute (min) is a unit of time equal to 60 seconds.

It is one of the most common ways we measure time, with 60 minutes making up one hour. While we use it every day, the minute has a fascinating history and is used for more than just telling time.

Where Did the 60-Second Minute Come From?

The reason a minute has 60 seconds and an hour has 60 minutes dates back to the ancient Babylonians. Around 2000 B.C., they used a sexagesimal (base-60) numbering system, which they inherited from the Sumerians.

This system was efficient because the number 60 can be divided by many other numbers (1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 10, 12, 15, 20, 30), which made calculating fractions simple.

The word "minute" itself comes from the Latin phrase pars minuta prima, meaning the "first small part" of an hour.

What is an Arcminute? The Minute in Geography

Beyond timekeeping, the minute is also a critical unit for measuring angles in geography and navigation. An "arcminute" (also called a minute of arc) is an angular measurement equal to 1/60th of a degree.

You will see arcminutes used in latitude and longitude coordinates to pinpoint exact locations on a map. For example, a location might be written as 34° 05' N, where '05' stands for five arcminutes.

As a fun fact, one nautical mile was historically defined as exactly one minute of arc of the Earth's latitude.

What is the International System of Units (SI)?

Second to Minute Conversion Table

Here are some quick reference conversions from Second (s) to Minute (min):