Calculating Distance Covered by a Scooter: A Comprehensive Guide

Understanding how to calculate the distance covered by a scooter at a given speed is a fundamental concept in basic physics and mathematics. This article will walk you through the process of calculating the distance traveled by a scooter running at 72 km/hr in 25 minutes. We'll explore the scenario, the conversion of units, and the application of the basic distance formula to ensure clarity and accuracy.

Scenario: A Scooter Running at 72 km/hr

Suppose you're curious about how far a scooter, traveling at a constant speed of 72 km/hr, will cover during a 25-minute period. The initial step involves ensuring that the units of time and speed are compatible for calculation. Since the speed is given in kilometers per hour (km/hr) and the time in minutes, we need to convert the speed into a compatible time unit (minutes or seconds) or convert the time into hours.

Converting Time from Minutes to Hours

Let's start by converting 25 minutes into hours. We know that: 25 minutes 25/60 hours This can be simplified to: 25 minutes 5/12 hours ≈ 0.4167 hours

Distance Calculation

The basic formula for distance is:

Distance Speed × Time

Substituting the given values into the formula, we get:

Distance 72 km/hr × 5/12 hours 30 km

Thus, the scooter will cover 30 kilometers in 25 minutes at a speed of 72 km/hr.

Alternative Methods of Calculation

Another way to think about the distance covered is to break down the 25-minute interval into smaller, more manageable parts. As mentioned, 25 minutes is 5 times 5 minutes, and an hour is 12 times 5 minutes. Therefore, we can calculate the distance covered in 5 minutes and then multiply by 5.

Calculate speed in km/min:

72 km/hr divided by 60 1.2 km/min

Multiply the speed by the time in minutes:

1.2 km/min × 25 min 30 km

Both methods yield the same result, confirming the accuracy of the calculation.

Additional Units of Measurement

For those interested in exploring the distance in different units, let's convert the speed from km/hr to meters per second (m/s) and then calculate the distance in meters. Here's the step-by-step process:

Convert speed to m/s:

72 km/hr (72 × 1000 m) / (60 × 60 s) 20 m/s

Convert time to seconds:

25 minutes 25 × 60 seconds 1500 seconds

Calculate distance using the speed and time in seconds:

Distance 20 m/s × 1500 s 30000 m 30 km

These alternative methods provide a comprehensive understanding of how to calculate distance covered by a scooter or any object moving at a constant speed.

Conclusion

By following the steps outlined above, you can easily calculate the distance covered by a scooter or any other object at a constant speed. Whether you prefer converting units or breaking down the time into smaller intervals, the result will always be accurate. This knowledge is essential for anyone dealing with everyday scenarios involving speed and distance.