Change 520 km/h to m/s.
The correct answer and explanation is:
Correct Answer:
To convert 520 km/h to meters per second (m/s): 520 km/h=520×1000 meters3600 seconds=5200003600≈144.44 m/s520 \text{ km/h} = \frac{520 \times 1000 \text{ meters}}{3600 \text{ seconds}} = \frac{520000}{3600} \approx 144.44 \text{ m/s}
Explanation (300 words):
When converting a speed from kilometers per hour (km/h) to meters per second (m/s), it is important to understand the relationship between the units involved.
- Units Breakdown:
- 1 kilometer (km) = 1000 meters (m)
- 1 hour (h) = 3600 seconds (s)
Speed is distance over time, so converting km/h to m/s involves converting the numerator from kilometers to meters and the denominator from hours to seconds.
- Step-by-step Conversion:
Given speed: 520 km/h.
- Convert kilometers to meters: 520 km=520×1000=520000 meters520 \text{ km} = 520 \times 1000 = 520000 \text{ meters}
- Convert hours to seconds: 1 hour=3600 seconds1 \text{ hour} = 3600 \text{ seconds}
So, 520 km/h=520000 meters3600 seconds.520 \text{ km/h} = \frac{520000 \text{ meters}}{3600 \text{ seconds}}.
- Calculation:
Perform the division: 5200003600≈144.44 m/s.\frac{520000}{3600} \approx 144.44 \text{ m/s}.
- Why convert units?
Meters per second is the SI (International System of Units) standard unit for velocity and speed in scientific contexts. Converting to m/s allows for easier integration into physics formulas, especially those involving acceleration, force, and energy.
- Shortcut Method:
There’s a quick conversion factor to go from km/h to m/s: 1 km/h=10003600 m/s=518 m/s≈0.27778 m/s.1 \text{ km/h} = \frac{1000}{3600} \text{ m/s} = \frac{5}{18} \text{ m/s} \approx 0.27778 \text{ m/s}.
Therefore, 520×518=520×0.27778=144.44 m/s.520 \times \frac{5}{18} = 520 \times 0.27778 = 144.44 \text{ m/s}.
This shortcut is very handy in many problems.
Summary:
To convert km/h to m/s, multiply by 518\frac{5}{18}. This is because a kilometer has 1000 meters and an hour has 3600 seconds. This conversion is essential for scientific accuracy and is widely used in physics and engineering.