Understanding Speed
Speed is a measure of how fast an object is moving. In mathematics and physics, the most basic formula for speed is:
\[
\text{Speed} = \frac{\text{Distance}}{\text{Time}}
\]
This means that speed is equal to the distance traveled divided by the time it took to travel that distance.
- Distance is how far something has moved, usually measured in meters (m), kilometers (km), or miles (mi).
- Time is how long it took, usually measured in seconds (s), minutes (min), or hours (h).
- Speed is usually expressed in units like meters per second (m/s) or kilometers per hour (km/h).
Converting Units
Make sure that your units are consistent. If your distance is in kilometers and time is in hours, your speed will be in km/h. If your distance is in meters and time is in seconds, then your speed will be in m/s.
Sometimes you need to convert units:
- \(1 \text{ km} = 1{,}000 \text{ m}\)
- \(1 \text{ hour} = 60 \text{ minutes} = 3{,}600 \text{ seconds}\)
Sample Problem
Problem: A car travels 120 kilometers in 2 hours. What is its speed?
Solution:
\[
\text{Speed} = \frac{120 \text{ km}}{2 \text{ h}} = 60 \text{ km/h}
\]
So the car is moving at 60 kilometers per hour.
Real-World Example
Isang araw, si Aling Maria ay sumakay ng tricycle papunta sa palengke. Sinabi ng driver na ang layo ng palengke mula sa kanilang bahay ay 10 kilometro, at inabot sila ng 30 minuto sa biyahe.
Para malaman ang bilis ng tricycle:
Una, i-convert muna natin ang 30 minuto sa oras:
\[
30 \text{ minutes} = 0.5 \text{ hour}
\]
Ngayon, gamitin natin ang formula:
\[
\text{Speed} = \frac{10 \text{ km}}{0.5 \text{ hr}} = 20 \text{ km/h}
\]
Ibig sabihin, ang takbo ng tricycle ay 20 kilometro bawat oras.
Why Speed is Important
Computing speed helps us:
- Estimate travel time
- Analyze motion in science
- Improve efficiency in transportation
- Solve real-world problems related to motion
