Calculating Train Speed and Its Equivalents

Understanding and calculating train speed is fundamental in the field of transportation and travel. This article will guide you through the process of determining the speed of a train that traveled 120 kilometers in 1.5 hours, as well as expressing the speed in various units such as kilometers per hour (km/h) and meters per second (m/s).

Speed Calculation: Kilometers Per Hour (km/h)

Given a distance of 120 kilometers (km) and a time of 2 hours and 30 minutes (2.5 hours), the speed of the train can be calculated using the formula for speed:

Speed Distance / Time

Substituting the given values:

Speed  120 km / 2.5 hours

Performing the calculation:

120 / 2.5  48 km/h

Hence, the speed of the train is 48 kilometers per hour (km/h).

Alternative Expressions of Speed

In addition to expressing speed in kilometers per hour, it can also be expressed in other units. Let us convert 48 km/h into meters per second (m/s).

Expressing Speed in Meters Per Second (m/s):

To convert the speed from km/h to m/s, we use the conversion factor 1 km 1000 m and 1 hour 3600 seconds.

Distance 120 km 120,000 meters (120 * 1000)

Time 2.5 hours 9000 seconds (2.5 * 3600)

Speed 120,000 / 9000 13.33 m/s

Thus, the speed of the train is equivalently 13.33 meters per second (m/s).

Understanding Other Scenarios

To further understand speed calculations, let's consider another scenario. For a train to cover 150 miles in 2.5 hours, the necessary speed of the train would be:

Converting Miles to Kilometers

First, we convert the distance from miles to kilometers:

150 miles 241.4 kilometers (1 mile ≈ 1.60934 kilometers)

Given the time of 2.5 hours, the speed of the train:

Speed  150 miles / 2.5 hours

Performing the calculation:

150 / 2.5  60 miles per hour (mph)

Equivalent Speed in Kilometers Per Hour

Converting 60 mph to km/h using the conversion factor:

60 mph 96.56 kilometers per hour (1 mph ≈ 1.60934 km/h)

Therefore, the speed of the train is approximately 96.56 km/h.

Conclusion

From the above illustrations and calculations, we have successfully determined the speed of a train traveling 120 kilometers in 1.5 hours to be 48 km/h. Additionally, we have converted this speed into meters per second (m/s) and explored how to calculate a train's speed for an equivalent distance in miles.

Understanding these calculations is not only crucial for travel planning but also in the broader context of transportation engineering and logistics.

Stay tuned for more insightful articles on transportation and related topics!