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

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In summary, to convert 35 km/h to m/s, you need to multiply 35 km/h by the conversion factors of 1000m/1km and 1h/3600s. This will give you the answer of 583 m/s. The mistake was made by using 60 seconds instead of 3600 seconds in the conversion.
  • #1
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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  • #2
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
 
  • #3
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!
 
  • #4
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
 

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

What is the formula for converting km/h to m/s?

The formula for converting kilometers per hour (km/h) to meters per second (m/s) is:

m/s = km/h ÷ 3.6

How do I convert km/h to m/s?

To convert km/h to m/s, simply divide the speed in kilometers per hour by 3.6.

Why do we need to convert between km/h and m/s?

Kilometers per hour and meters per second are two different units used to measure speed. Converting between them allows for easier comparison and understanding of speed measurements.

What are the common uses of km/h and m/s?

Kilometers per hour is commonly used to measure the speed of vehicles such as cars, trains, and airplanes. Meters per second is often used in scientific and engineering calculations, as well as in sports to measure running and cycling speeds.

Are there any shortcuts for converting between km/h and m/s?

One shortcut for converting km/h to m/s is to simply move the decimal point one place to the left. For example, 60 km/h is equivalent to 6 m/s. However, this shortcut only works for multiples of 10.

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