Final answer:
To determine the fastest speed from the options, compare the values provided in the same units of meters per second (m/s). The highest value, and thus the fastest speed listed, is 300 m/s, which is much faster than a sprinter's speed but much less than the speed of light. The correct option is D. 300 m/s.
Step-by-step explanation:
The question asks us to select the value that represents the fastest speed from a set of options. To find the fastest speed, we compare the values given only in the same units, which are meters per second (m/s). Upon inspection, we see that the values are 100 m/s, 5 m/s, 20 m/s, and 300 m/s. E, which is 0.005 s, is a time measurement and thus not comparable to the other options which are speeds.
Comparing the given speeds, 300 m/s is the largest value, which indicates the highest speed. To contextualize this, the speed of light, denoted by 'c' in physics equations, is approximately 3.00 × 108 m/s; this demonstrates how extremely high a speed of 300 m/s is, though still much less than the speed of light. Therefore, the correct option that represents the fastest speed is D. 300 m/s.
When considering speeds in different scenarios, such as an athlete's sprint or a car's travel, the same principle applies to determining speed: it is the distance traveled divided by the time taken. In the context of a sprinter running 100 m in approximately 10 seconds, the speed is calculated as 10 m/s. This basic arithmetic operation of dividing distance by time is essential in quantifying speed in physics.