Convert 120 miles per hour to meters per second. Round answer to the nearest hundredths place.
The correct answer and explanation is :
Answer:
120 miles per hour is approximately 53.64 meters per second.
Explanation:
To convert from miles per hour (mph) to meters per second (m/s), we use the following conversion factors:
- 1 mile = 1609.34 meters
- 1 hour = 3600 seconds
Step-by-Step Calculation:
- Multiply 120 miles per hour by 1609.34 meters per mile:
[
120 \times 1609.34 = 193120.8 \text{ meters per hour}
] - Convert hours to seconds by dividing by 3600:
[
\frac{193120.8}{3600} = 53.64 \text{ meters per second}
] - Rounding to the nearest hundredths place, we get 53.64 m/s.
Why This Matters:
This conversion is useful in physics and engineering, especially in fields like aerodynamics, vehicle dynamics, and sports science. Knowing speeds in meters per second allows for easier calculations in equations involving force, acceleration, and energy.

Here’s an image illustrating the concept of speed, showing a sports car in motion with the conversion of 120 mph to 53.64 m/s displayed.