Question

If the average speed of a helium atom at a certain temperature is 1110 m/s, what is the speed in miles per hour? (1 mi = 1609 m)
please help and show how its done

Answer 1

Answer:  2483 miles/hour

Explanation:  

[(1 mile/1609 meters) = 0.0006215 miles/meter]

(1110meters/sec)*(0.0006215 miles/meter)*(3600 secs/hour) = 2483 miles/hour!

Note how the units cancel to yield miles/hour.  Use the units to determine what conversion factors are needed.  We know that the final unit was to be miles/hour, so we converted meters into miles (firsy line) so that the meters would cancel, leaving only miles.  Same for seconds and hour (3600 secs/hour).