Chapter 2.6, Problem 36P

Writing Suppose you want to convert feet per second to miles per hour. What conversion factors would you use? How did you determine which unit should go in the numerator and which unit should go in the denominator of the conversion factors?

To determine

To find: conversion factor that converts feet per second to miles per hour.

Answer to Problem 36P

The conversion factor is $\frac{1}{88}$ , the unit 1 go in the numerator and the unit 88 go in the denominator.

Explanation of Solution

The conversion from the feet per second to miles per hour,

In one mile there is 5280 feet, and in 1 second there is 1/60 hour,

Convert,

  $\begin{array}{l}\frac{\text{Feet}}{\text{Second}}=\frac{\frac{1}{5280}\text{miles}}{\frac{1}{60}hour}\\ =\frac{60}{5280}mil/hr\\ =\frac{1}{88}mil/hr\end{array}$

Therefore the conversion factor is $\frac{1}{88}$ , the unit 1 go in the numerator and the unit 88 go in the denominator.