Converting Velocity from mph to ft/s: How to Rewrite a Constant Formula

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Homework Help Overview

The discussion revolves around converting a formula for velocity, originally expressed in miles per hour (mph), to feet per second (ft/s). The formula in question is V = 5.47√h, where V represents velocity and h represents distance in feet. Participants are exploring how to adjust the constant in the formula to accommodate this unit change.

Discussion Character

  • Conceptual clarification, Assumption checking, Mathematical reasoning

Approaches and Questions Raised

  • Participants are discussing the conversion of velocity from mph to ft/s and how to adjust the constant in the formula accordingly. There are questions about the correct conversion factors and the implications of changing the constant. Some participants express uncertainty about the units involved and how to properly convert them.

Discussion Status

The discussion is active, with participants providing various insights and corrections regarding the conversion factors. Some guidance has been offered on how to express the units explicitly and the need to adjust the constant. However, there is no explicit consensus on the final value of the new constant, and multiple interpretations of the conversion process are being explored.

Contextual Notes

Participants are working under the constraints of a homework assignment, which may limit the information they can use or the methods they can apply. There is also a noted confusion regarding the conversion factors for velocity between different units.

Ryuk1990
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Ok, here is a certain formula and I have to change it.

V = 5.47[tex]\sqrt{h}[/tex]

V is velocity in mph while h is distance in ft.

I need to determine a new constant so that V is in feet per second. How do I go about doing that? Do I just convert V first and then take the constant and multiply it by the numbers that I needed to convert to ft/s?

By the way, h stays the same as just ft.
 
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If 1 mph is 1.67 ft/s (recheck this for me)

How much ft/s is V mph?

EDIT: As Char. Limit says, 1mph is 1.467 ft/s

I forgot a 4 it seems.
 
Last edited:
Err...

1 mph is not 1.67 ft/s.

1 mph is 1.467 ft/s
 
There are 5280 ft/mi. There are 60 sec per minute and 60 minutes per hour and so 3600 seconds per hour.

1 mi/hr= (1 mi/hr)(5280 ft/mi)/(60 sec/hr)= 5280/60 (mi/hr)(ft/mi)(hr/sec= 1.47 ft/sec.
 
And there are 1000 metres / kilometre

I dunno... metric units just seem simpler...
 
Yeah I know how to convert but I'm asking how do I change the constant 5.47 in the formula to accommodate V in ft/sec? Do I just multiply 5.47 by the numbers that I multiplied into V to convert it?
 
I believe you would just multiply the equation the same way HallsofIvy has done; it's called the Grid Method.
 
Ryuk1990 said:
Ok, here is a certain formula and I have to change it.

V = 5.47[tex]\sqrt{h}[/tex]

V is velocity in mph while h is distance in ft.

I need to determine a new constant so that V is in feet per second. How do I go about doing that? Do I just convert V first and then take the constant and multiply it by the numbers that I needed to convert to ft/s?

By the way, h stays the same as just ft.
Just put the units in explicitly:

[tex]v=5.47 \frac{\mbox{miles}}{\mbox{hr ft}^{1/2}}\sqrt{h}[/tex]

and convert the units on the constant like you normally do.
 
vela said:
Just put the units in explicitly:

[tex]v=5.47 \frac{\mbox{miles}}{\mbox{hr ft}^{1/2}}\sqrt{h}[/tex]

and convert the units on the constant like you normally do.

I have no idea how you got that unit for the constant.

I also don't know what you mean by converting the units on the constant like you normally would. Convert the units on the constant into what?
 
  • #10
The units of [itex]\sqrt{h}[/itex], if h is in feet, is ft1/2, which cancels with the ft1/2 in the denominator of the units of the constant. The units of v is mph, so the what's left over after the ft1/2 cancels must be miles/hr.

If you want the formula to give an answer in ft/s, the constant needs to have units of ft/(s ft1/2).
 
  • #11
I got 8.02 as the new constant. Is that right?
 

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