Question

On June 9, 1983, the lower part of the Variegated Glacier in Alaska (Figure 1.16) was observed to be moving at a rate of \(64 \mathrm{~m}\) per day. What is this speed in kilometers per hour?

Short answer

The speed is approximately 0.00267 km/h.

Step-by-step solution

Convert meters per day to kilometers per day

First, we need to convert the speed from meters per day to kilometers per day. Since 1 kilometer is equal to 1000 meters, we divide the observed speed in meters per day by 1000. \[ 64 \text{ meters per day} = \frac{64}{1000} \text{ kilometers per day} = 0.064 \text{ kilometers per day} \]

Convert kilometers per day to kilometers per hour

Now, we need to express the speed in kilometers per hour. Since there are 24 hours in a day, we divide the kilometers per day by 24:\[ 0.064 \text{ kilometers per day} = \frac{0.064}{24} \text{ kilometers per hour} \]

Calculate the final result

Carry out the division in Step 2 to find the speed in kilometers per hour:\[ \frac{0.064}{24} = 0.0026667 \text{ kilometers per hour} \]

Final Conversion Result

Thus, the speed of the Variegated Glacier is approximately 0.00267 kilometers per hour.

Key concepts

Speed Calculation

Speed is a way to measure how fast something is moving. It's often expressed as a distance traveled over a period of time. In this exercise, we started with a speed given in meters per day and needed to convert it to kilometers per hour. Converting units involves understanding the basic relationships, like knowing that 1 kilometer equals 1000 meters or that there are 24 hours in a day.

Here's the basic idea:

• Determine the initial unit and the unit you want to convert to.
• Apply the correct conversion factor (e.g., meters to kilometers).
• Adjust for time if necessary (e.g., day to hour).

By following these steps, we can calculate the speed in different units easily.

Kilometers per Hour

Kilometers per hour (km/h) is a common unit of speed, especially for expressing vehicle speeds. It tells us how many kilometers something travels in one hour. To convert from a daily speed to hourly speed, we have to divide by the number of hours in a day.

This exercise taught us the importance of understanding time conversions. To go from kilometers per day (km/day) to kilometers per hour (km/h), the formula is:

• First, convert meters per day to kilometers per day by dividing by 1000.
• Then, convert kilometers per day to kilometers per hour by dividing by 24.

By doing this step-by-step, we turned the glacier's daily movement into a much smaller hourly movement (0.00267 km/h), highlighting how slow glacier movement is compared to everyday human transportation.

Meters per Day

Meters per day is an unusual but sometimes useful unit for speed, especially in scientific contexts like measuring glaciers. It tells how far something moves in one day in meters, which makes it suitable for very slow-moving objects such as glaciers or geological changes. Understanding how fast a glacier moves each day helps scientists study glacier behavior and predict future changes.

Before converting to kilometers per hour, knowing the speed in meters per day helps us appreciate the glacier's gradual but significant movement. Since glaciers cover vast landscapes but move very slowly over time, this unit captures the essence of glacier dynamics. Just remember, converting meters per day requires decreasing the number significantly when switching to hours even though it might seem cumbersome at first.

Glacier Movement

Glaciers are massive and thick bodies of ice that move slowly over land, shaped by gravity and melting processes. They are like nature's slow-motion rivers, changing landscapes over centuries. Glacier movement happens over long periods, thus measuring their speed in meters per day or even slower is critical to understanding their impact.

Factors affecting glacier movement might include:

• Temperature changes
• Amount of snowfall and ice melting
• Surface slope and ground composition

Studying glacier movement helps us understand climate change, water resources, and sea-level rise. The Variegated Glacier's movement speed, although seemingly small when converted to km/h, accumulates significant changes over broader timescales. This reinforces the importance of using the right unit for the right context to grasp the true impact of natural processes.