59 km/h to m/s?

(59 km/ 1 h)(1000 m/ 1 km)( 1 h/60 min)(1 min/60 s) = 16.3888889 m/s

Here's the basic idea. Remember two things:
1. Something divided by itself is 1.
2. Multiplication by 1 doesn't change the value of anything so you can do it many times.

Look at all the conversion factors -- they all equal 1. 1000m = 1km so 1000m / 1 km = 1. Also 1 km/ 1000m = 1. This means you can flip these over if you need to!

Next, look at how the terms are arranged. We start with km/h. The next term has m on top and km on the bottom. The km will cancel leaving you with m on top.

The next one has h on top and min on the bottom. The h cancels leaving you with min on the bottom. But, you wanted seconds on the bottom. So, the next term has min on top and s on the bottom. The min cancels leaving you with s on the bottom. (You could just use 1 h/ 3600s if you know that to be correct. I did it in two steps to show you how you could do it with info you know).

Now, just multiply all the tops and multiply all the bottoms and reduce the resulting fraction.
(59*1000*1*1) / (1*1*60*60)
59000/3600

Learn to work with the units. If you get the units correct, the problem will work itself....Show more

Basically you just convert both sides.

1km = 1000m
Therefore 59km = 59000m

1h = 60 mins x 60 seconds
= 3600 seconds

That would mean 59000m/ 3600 seconds

But since it's asking per second, divide both sides by 3600

Leaving with 16.39m/s

or (295/18m)m/s...Show more