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lillib123
Sep 14, 2009, 06:29 PM
An acceleration of 5.6 mi/h/s is equal to what in units of m/s2?

Please explain what and why.

Perito
Sep 15, 2009, 06:51 AM
\frac {\frac {5.6\,mi}{h}}{s} = \frac {5.6\,mi}{s\,h}

\frac {5.6\,mi}{s\,h} \, \times \, \frac {1\,h}{3600\,s}=\frac {5.6\,mi}{3600\,s^2}\, \times \, \frac {1609.344\,m}{mi} \,=\, \frac {5.6\,\times\,1609.344\,m}{3600\,s^2}

You do the arithmetic.

Note that expressions such as \frac {1\,h}{3600\,s} (hours per second or the inverse of seconds per hour) and \frac {1609.344\,m}{mi} (meters per mile) are just identities (values equal to one). You are simply multiplying by 1 (with the numerator and denominator in different units) until you get the units you need.

lillib123
Sep 15, 2009, 12:55 PM
Thanks! This website is awesome! :D