Question

How many seconds are there in 3 days? (a) \(259200 \mathrm{~s}\) (b) \(172800 \mathrm{~s}\) (c) \(24800 \mathrm{~s}\) (d) \(72000 \mathrm{~s}\)

Short answer

There are 259200 seconds in 3 days.

Step-by-step solution

- Calculate the number of hours in a day

First, determine the number of hours in a day. There are 24 hours in one day.

- Calculate the number of seconds in an hour

Next, figure out how many seconds there are in one hour. Since there are 60 minutes in an hour and 60 seconds in a minute, there are 60 times 60, which equals 3600 seconds in an hour.

- Calculate the total number of seconds in a day

Multiply the number of hours in a day by the number of seconds in an hour to find the total number of seconds in one day: 24 hours/day times 3600 seconds/hour equals 86400 seconds/day.

- Calculate the total number of seconds in 3 days

Finally, multiply the total number of seconds in one day by 3 to find the total number of seconds in 3 days: 86400 seconds/day times 3 days equals 259200 seconds.

Key concepts

Seconds in a Day

Understanding the concept of seconds in a day is essential for managing time effectively. We operate within a framework where time is commonly divided into seconds, minutes, and hours. A day has 24 hours, and to translate these into seconds, a two-step process is necessary. First, comprehend that each hour consists of 60 minutes. Subsequently, since each minute holds 60 seconds, multiplying these together results in 60 minutes/hour x 60 seconds/minute = 3600 seconds/hour.

Now, to find out how many seconds are in an entire day, you simply multiply the number of seconds in an hour by the total hours in a day. Therefore, performing 24 hours/day x 3600 seconds/hour, we arrive at the fact that there are exactly 86400 seconds in a single day. This precise time conversion is pivotal, whether it's for coordinating daily activities or solving more advanced time-related problems in various fields such as physics, logistics, and time management.

Units of Time

Units of time serve as the building blocks for synchronizing human activities and scientific measurements. Starting from the smallest commonly used unit, the second, units of time build upon each other. Each second contributes to the makeup of a minute, with 60 seconds equaling 1 minute. The minute stacks up to form an hour, where 60 minutes make up 1 hour. Scaling further up, we encounter the day, which comprises 24 hours.
To visualize this better:

• 1 minute = 60 seconds
• 1 hour = 60 minutes
• 1 day = 24 hours

Moreover, to explore larger expanses of time, we bridge days into weeks, weeks into months, and months into years. The comprehension of how these units interconnect enables not only the ability to keep appointments or catch the bus but also to perform complex calculations in fields requiring precise time measurements.

Time Calculations

Time calculations are integral for converting between different units of time and understanding the duration of events. Whether you are timing a race, planning your study sessions, or working out a cooking duration, transforming time units is a skill that's applied every day. As seen in the exercise, multiplying the units by their respective multipliers helps us transition from hours to seconds. The key to success in such computations lies in the methodical application of conversion factors.

Here's a quick guide for the steps to take:

• Identify the units you are converting from and to.
• Use the appropriate conversion factor (like 1 hour = 3600 seconds).
• Multiply across the units to reach the desired unit.

It's crucial to remember these conversion factors and steps to avoid inaccuracies in time calculations. With practice, these conversions can become second nature and can be effortlessly applied to various scenarios, both academic and practical.