Which speed is greater 30 ms or 30 km per hour?

Which Speed Is Greater: 30 Meters Per Second or 30 Kilometers Per Hour?

The speed of 30 meters per second (m/s) is significantly greater than 30 kilometers per hour (km/h).

To accurately compare speeds expressed in different units, it's essential to convert them to a common unit. The International System of Units (SI) standard for speed is meters per second (m/s), making it a suitable unit for comparison.

Understanding Speed Units

• Meters Per Second (m/s): This unit indicates the distance traveled in meters during each second. It is commonly used for scientific calculations and to describe the speed of objects over shorter durations or distances.
• Kilometers Per Hour (km/h): This unit indicates the distance traveled in kilometers during each hour. It is widely used for vehicle speeds, travel distances, and in everyday contexts.

Converting Kilometers Per Hour to Meters Per Second

To convert kilometers per hour to meters per second, we use the following conversion factors:

• 1 kilometer (km) = 1,000 meters (m)
• 1 hour (h) = 60 minutes = 3,600 seconds (s)

Let's convert 30 km/h to m/s:

$$
30 \text{ km/h} = 30 \times \frac{1000 \text{ m}}{1 \text{ km}} \times \frac{1 \text{ h}}{3600 \text{ s}}
$$

$$
= 30 \times \frac{1000}{3600} \text{ m/s}
$$

$$
= 30 \times \frac{10}{36} \text{ m/s}
$$

$$
= 30 \times \frac{5}{18} \text{ m/s}
$$

$$
= \frac{150}{18} \text{ m/s}
$$

$$
\approx 8.33 \text{ m/s}
$$

Direct Comparison

Now that both speeds are in meters per second, we can directly compare them:

• 30 m/s
• 8.33 m/s (equivalent to 30 km/h)

Clearly, 30 m/s is a much higher speed than 8.33 m/s. This confirms that the speed of 30 m/s is indeed greater than the speed equivalent to 30 km/h.

Practical Implications and Examples

Understanding the difference between these units is crucial in various real-world scenarios:

• Vehicle Speed: A car traveling at 30 km/h is moving at a relatively slow pace, often seen in residential areas or heavy traffic.
• Athletic Performance: An athlete running at 30 m/s would be moving extraordinarily fast, nearing the speed of the fastest sprinters in the world (Usain Bolt's average speed during his 100m world record was about 10.44 m/s, peaking around 12 m/s).
• Projectile Motion: The speed of objects like thrown balls or projectiles is often described in m/s, where 30 m/s would represent a considerable velocity.

Here's a quick summary:

By converting units, we can precisely determine which speed is greater, eliminating any ambiguity caused by different measurement systems.