15 meters per second converted into miles per hour.
The Correct Answer and Explanation is:
To convert a speed from meters per second (m/s) to miles per hour (mph), we can use the following conversion factors:
- Meters to Miles: There are approximately 0.000621371 miles in a meter.
- Seconds to Hours: There are 3600 seconds in one hour.
Using these conversion factors, we can set up the conversion as follows:
- Convert meters per second to miles per second:
[
15 \, \text{m/s} \times 0.000621371 \, \text{miles/m} = 0.00932056 \, \text{miles/second}
] - Convert miles per second to miles per hour:
[
0.00932056 \, \text{miles/second} \times 3600 \, \text{seconds/hour} = 33.515 \, \text{miles/hour}
]
Therefore, 15 meters per second is approximately 33.52 miles per hour when rounded to two decimal places.
Detailed Explanation
Conversion Process:
The conversion of speed units is vital in various fields such as physics, engineering, and everyday life, especially when integrating data from different systems of measurement. To convert from m/s to mph, we use a two-step approach.
Step 1: Meters to Miles
We know that 1 meter equals approximately 0.000621371 miles. This factor is derived from the fact that 1 mile equals 1609.34 meters. Thus, to convert meters to miles, we multiply the number of meters by this conversion factor.
Step 2: Seconds to Hours
Next, since we are converting a rate that includes time, we need to account for the difference between seconds and hours. Since there are 3600 seconds in one hour, we multiply the miles per second by this factor to get miles per hour.
Application of Conversions
This conversion is particularly useful in real-world applications. For instance, when determining speed limits, vehicle performance, or analyzing sports data, understanding how to convert between different units allows for more accurate comparisons and decisions. Knowing that 15 m/s equals roughly 33.52 mph can help in contexts like automotive engineering, where both metric and imperial systems are frequently used.