A parachutist's speed during a free fall reaches 207 kilometers per hour. What is this speed in meters per second? At this speed, how many meters will the parachutist fall during 20 seconds of free fall? Do not round your answers.
Accepted Solution
A:
The speed is 57.5 m/s and the parachutist will fall 1150 m in 20 seconds.
Explanation: We start out with the ratio 207 km/1 hr.
We know that 1 km = 1000 m; this means 207 km = 207*1000 = 207000 m. This gives us 207000 m/1 hr.
We know that 1 hr = 60 minutes, so we have 207000 m/60 min.
We also know that 1 min = 60 seconds, so 60 min = 60*60 = 3600 sec; this gives us 207000 m/3600 sec.
Dividing this, we get 57.5 m/s.
In 20 seconds, the parachutist will fall 57.5(20) = 1150 m.