How would you convert a speed from kilometers per hour to meters per second?

To convert a speed from kilometers per hour to meters per second, you divide the speed in kilometers per hour by 3.6. This works because 1 kilometer is equivalent to 1000 meters, and 1 hour is equivalent to 3600 seconds.

When you perform the conversion, you take the number of kilometers per hour, convert kilometers to meters (multiplying by 1000), and convert hours to seconds (dividing by 3600). Specifically, the conversion factor arises as follows:

1 km/h = (1000 meters / 1 kilometer) / (3600 seconds / 1 hour) = 1000/3600 meters/second ≈ 1/3.6 m/s.

Thus, to find the speed in meters per second, you take the number of kilometers per hour and divide it by the factor of 3.6. This is why dividing by 3.6 is the correct method for conversion.