Units of speed

The most common units of speed used in math or physics are miles per hour and kilometers per hour. These are the units the speedometer in your car will show.  

Feet per second, but specially meters per second are usually used to measure speed of animals, humans, and free fall objects. Knots is used to measure the speed of ship and/or boats. 

The one on top can be used to convert minutes to seconds. Notice something very important with the first one. The unit for minutes is at the bottom.

Changing units of speed

A skill that is extremely important in physics is converting a unit of speed to another. For example, you should know how to convert miles per hour to kilometers per hour (km/h).

Changing units is something that is done often in physics, so it is extremely important to master the technique. 

The method to use is called chain-link conversion. In chain conversion, the original unit is multiplied by a conversion factor.

A conversion factor is a ratio of 2 units. For example, take a look at these two conversion factors.

The one on top can be used to convert minutes to seconds. Notice something very important with the first one. The unit for minutes is at the bottom. 

How would you convert 120 seconds to minutes? Which conversion factor will you pick? You will pick the one at the bottom since second is at the bottom in the conversion factor and do the math as shown.

Convert 60 miles per hour (60 m/h) to kilometer per hour (km/h)

The unit of time is the same. How do I know? Well you are converting from 60 miles per hour to km per hour. The unit of time shown in bold is the same as you can see. Therefore, all you need to do is to change 60 miles to kilometers and you are all set!

You thought that was complicated? Right? 

Next, you need to know the relationship between miles and kilometers. Since 1 mile = 1.60934 kilometer, your two conversion factors are.

Since you are converting from miles to kilometer, you will use the one below.

We get 96.56 km/h and it is close to 100 km/h. Look at your speedometer above to verify this.

Convert 60 miles per hour (60 m/h) to kilometer per second (km/s)

We have already converted to km/h. Thus, all we need to do is to change the unit of time. Recall that 1 hour  = 3600 seconds, so here is your conversion factor.

This is equal to 0.02682 km/s or 26.82 meter per second. Convert this one yourself to verify the 26.82 m/s!

This ends our lesson about units of speed.

This is equal to 0.02682 km/s or 26.82 meter per second.

Do the conversion yourself in order to verify the 26.82 m/s!

This ends our lesson about units of speed.

Units of speed quiz

This units of speed quiz will test your knowledge of units used in physics. After completing this quiz, you should be able to know how to convert from one unit to another. You will not need to use a paper and pencil to complete this quiz.

First, read this lesson about units of speed and then take this quiz.

Objective of the quiz:

• know which units of speed are used the most in physics.
• Know which units of speed are used to measure speed in humans, animals falling objects, boats, light.
• Know what a conversion factor is.
• Identify the correct conversion factor to do conversion.
• Use chain-link conversion to convert miles per hour to kilometers per hour.
• Use chain-link conversion to convert kilometers per hour to miles per hour.