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    thesinter's Avatar
    thesinter Posts: 2, Reputation: 1
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    #1

    Aug 29, 2006, 04:06 PM
    speed formula help
    OK I am taking my first physics class and I am not doing too great in it, but the good thing is this is only the first week of class. My question is about the speed formula. I know that the formula is S=D/T, but I still get the problems wrong even thow I plug in the numbers right. Here is an example of what I do.

    Q1. My dog Daisy can run to the Tn/Ga state line (0.6 miles away) in 5 minutes. What is her speed in miles per hour?

    OK here is what I would do:
    1)here is my formula S=0.6m/5min. 2) I would put 5 min into hours .083

    3) Then I would divide 0.6m/.083h and get 7.22

    what am I doing wrong?
    kp2171's Avatar
    kp2171 Posts: 5,318, Reputation: 1612
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    #2

    Aug 29, 2006, 04:32 PM
    Your setup is fine. Why do you think it is wrong? What is the answer "supposed" to be, if not that?
    dmatos's Avatar
    dmatos Posts: 204, Reputation: 26
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    #3

    Aug 29, 2006, 05:36 PM
    Please note that 5 minutes is not exactly 0.083 hours. You have rounded off that number, which will introduce inaccuracies in your final answer.
    kp2171's Avatar
    kp2171 Posts: 5,318, Reputation: 1612
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    #4

    Aug 29, 2006, 06:36 PM
    Quote Originally Posted by dmatos
    Please note that 5 minutes is not exactly 0.083 hours. You have rounded off that number, which will introduce inaccuracies in your final answer.
    I REALLY do not think that having 7.2 versus 7.22 is why the person thinks they are wrong. If you're going to worry about accuracy and sig figs note that the measurements are limited in precision anyway by measurements of 0.6 and 5.

    That is not the problem.
    thesinter's Avatar
    thesinter Posts: 2, Reputation: 1
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    #5

    Aug 29, 2006, 06:39 PM
    I figured out what I did wrong,it took the dog 5 hours not 5 minutes. Also I was doing problems like this and I was not dividing the equation right, but after asking my dad for some help I was guided in the right direction. Also I thank you two for helping me, and I am sure I will be posting here often, so I hope to see you later.
    kp2171's Avatar
    kp2171 Posts: 5,318, Reputation: 1612
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    #6

    Aug 29, 2006, 07:36 PM
    Just be sure to post as you did.

    You posted the question and tried it, and showed your work.

    Some people post here expecting us to solve their work and show them how. The way you did it is appropriate and appreciated, and you'll likely get better help when its clear you are at least trying.
    afroman's Avatar
    afroman Posts: 9, Reputation: 1
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    #7

    Oct 1, 2007, 02:35 PM
    Quote Originally Posted by thesinter
    ok i am taking my first physics class and i am not doing too great in it, but the good thing is this is only the first week of class. my question is about the speed formula. i know that the formula is S=D/T, but i still get the problems wrong even thow i plug in the numbers right. here is an example of what i do.

    Q1. My dog Daisy can run to the Tn/Ga state line (0.6 miles away) in 5 minutes. What is her speed in miles per hour?

    ok here is what i would do:
    1)here is my formula S=0.6m/5min. 2) i would put 5 min into hours .083

    3) Then i would divide 0.6m/.083h and get 7.22

    what am i doing wrong?
    Make sure you match the units together, so in this case. Instead of changing the time to hours, change it to seconds. Try that...
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