Question

A parachutist’s rate during a free fall reaches 60 meters per second. What is this rate in feet per second?

Answer 1

Acceleration due to gravity is 9.8m/s^2

Time covered = 60/9.8 seconds

Distance covered = 60 x 60/9.8 meters

1 Foot = 0.3048 meters

Distance in foot = 3600/(9.8 x 0.3048) feet

Speed in feet = Distance/ time = 3600/(9.8 x 0.3048) divide by 60/9.8 seconds

Speed in feet = 60/0.3048 = 196.8504 feet/second (to four decimal places)

Answer 2

You can use dimensional analysis to solve this problem.

( 60 meters / second ) x ( 3.28 feet / 1 meter )

= 196.8 feet per second

You can also use a proportion.

Since 1 meter = 3.28 feet, then 60 meters = x feet.

1 meter / 3.28 feet = 60 meters / x feet

You will get the same answer = 196.8 feet per second.