Simple units conversion (km/h -> m/s)

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Homework Help Overview

The problem involves converting a speed from kilometers per hour (km/h) to meters per second (m/s). The original poster presents their initial calculation and expresses confusion over the discrepancy between their result and the expected answer.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory, Assumption checking

Approaches and Questions Raised

  • Participants discuss the conversion factors for kilometers to meters and hours to seconds, with one participant noting the need to account for the total number of seconds in an hour.

Discussion Status

Some participants have provided insights regarding the conversion process, highlighting a common mistake in the calculation. There is an acknowledgment of the error, and the discussion appears to be moving towards clarification of the conversion method.

Contextual Notes

There is a misunderstanding regarding the number of seconds in an hour, which is noted as a point of confusion in the calculations presented.

oggfile
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So the problem is:

Convert 35 km/h to in m/s.

I know that:

- 1 km = 10^3 m
- 1 h = 60 s

So I do:

35 km/h (10^3 m/1 km) (1 h/60 s) = 583 m/s

But the answer is 9.7 -- What??
 
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oggfile said:
So the problem is:

Convert 35 km/h to in m/s.

I know that:

- 1 km = 10^3 m
- 1 h = 60 s

So I do:

35 km/h (10^3 m/1 km) (1 h/60 s) = 583 m/s

But the answer is 9.7 -- What??

[tex]\frac{35km}{h} \cdot \frac{1000m}{1km} \cdot \frac{1h}{3600s}[/tex]

There are more seconds in an hour than 60!

Hope this helps.

CS
 
stewartcs said:
[tex]\frac{35km}{h} \cdot \frac{1000m}{1km} \cdot \frac{1h}{3600s}[/tex]

There are more seconds in an hour than 60!

Hope this helps.

CS

Wow, that was dumb of me. Seriously, I could simply NOT figure this out. Thanks a lot!
 
oggfile said:
Wow, that was dumb of me. Seriously, I could simply NOT figure this out. Thanks a lot!

Honest mistake...happens to everyone sometimes.

CS
 

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