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

3 Answers

Use dimensional analysis (a.k.a. factor-label method).

Explanation:

Given:

(x" km")/"h"

Multiply by the conversion factor (1000" m")/(1" km"):

(xcancel(" km"))/"h"xx(1000" m")/(1cancel(" km"))

Please observe how the km units cancel.

Multiply by the conversion factor (1" h")/(3600" s")

(xcancel(" km"))/cancel("h")xx(1000" m")/(1cancel(" km"))xx(1cancel(" h"))/(3600" s")

Please observe that the hour units are canceled and we are left with the units of "m/s".

Follow the rules of the multiplication of fractions to obtain the value of x:

(xcancel(" km"))/cancel("h")xx(1000" m")/(1cancel(" km"))xx(1cancel(" h"))/(3600" s") = (5x)/18\ "m/s"

Jun 25, 2017

Let's convert 10km/h to m/s.

"10 km = 10,000 m"

"1 hour = 60 min"

"1 min = 60 s"

("10km")/("1h") = ("10,000 m")/("60"*"60s")

=(10,000)/3600

="2.78 ms"^(-1)

Jun 25, 2017

Divide by 3.6

Explanation:

There are 1000 meters in a kilometer, so:

1 km/h is 1000 m/h#

In one minute you would travel 1/60th of that, so:

1000/60 m/minute.

In one second you would travel 1/60th of that, so:

1000/(60xx60) = 1000/3600 = 1/3.6 m/s

In summary:

1 km/h = 1/3.6 m/s

So to convert from km/h to m/s, divide by 3.6

Note that dividing by 3.6 is the same as dividing by 4 then adding 11.bar(1) %. So for a quick approximation, halve the original number twice, then add 10 %. If you want more accuracy, add 10 % and 1 %, etc.

For example:

10 km/h -> 5 -> 2.5 -> 2.5+0.25+0.025+... = 2.777... m/s