When investigating the speed of a vehicle, a fundamental understanding of the relationship between distance and time is essential. This article demonstrates how to calculate the speed of a car that travels 2.5 kilometers in 1 minute, showing the step-by-step process of converting units and applying the basic speed formula.

Understanding the Basic Formula

The speed of an object is defined as the distance it covers per unit of time, which can be expressed through the formula:

Speed (S) Distance (D) / Time (T)

Calculating Speed in Kilometers per Hour (km/h)

In the given scenario, we are provided with the distance traveled by the car and the time taken. The car travels 2.5 kilometers in 1 minute. The speed needs to be calculated in kilometers per hour (km/h) for comprehensive context.

We start by converting the time from minutes to hours, as the standard unit of speed in terms of distance per hour requires the time to be in hours. We know that 1 minute is equivalent to 1/60th of an hour. Thus:

1 minute 1 minute * (1 hour / 60 minutes) 1/60 hours

The next step is to apply the formula for speed:

Speed (S) 2.5 kilometers / (1/60 hours)

Multiplying by the reciprocal of (1/60 hours), we get:

Speed (S) 2.5 kilometers * (60 minutes / 1 hour) 150 kilometers per hour (km/h)

Thus, the car's speed is 150 km/h.

Alternative Methods for Conversion

There are alternative and straightforward methods to express the speed of the car. Consider the following steps:

2.5 kilometers/1 minute * 60 minutes/1 hour 150 kilometers per hour (km/h)

Alternatively, we can express the same calculation using the derived units:

Speed (S) 2.5 kilometers / (1/60 hours) 2.5 * 60 150 km/h

Unit Conversions: m/s and miles/h

For a deeper understanding, let's convert the speed to meters per second (m/s) and miles per hour (mph).

Meters per second (m/s):

1 kilometer 1000 meters

2.5 kilometers 2500 meters

1 minute 60 seconds

Speed (S) 2500 meters / 60 seconds 41.67 meters per second (m/s)

Miles per hour (mph):

1 kilometer 0.621371 miles

2.5 kilometers 1.553428 miles

1 minute 1/60 hours

Speed (S) 1.553428 miles / (1/60 hours) 93.21 miles per hour (mph)

These conversions demonstrate the versatility of expressing speed in different units, which can be crucial depending on the region and the intended audience.

For further practice, try converting the speed to feet per 10 minutes. This exercise challenges the understanding of unit conversions and reinforces the application of the basic speed formula.

Understanding these concepts and methods not only aids in solving practical problems but also deepens the overall comprehension of speed, distance, and time in various contexts.