Question

Prof. Kopp is working on an experiment located in an abandoned mine near Duluth, MN. The experiment is located approximately 713 m below the surface. He went to visit the site this last summer and took a harrowing ride in a bumpy, claustrophobic elevator down to the cavern. He timed the ride to last about 90 s. Compute the average speed of the elevator (in mph) as it plummeted to the bottom of the shaft.

Answer 1

Answer:

The average speed of the elevator going down in the abandoned mine is 17.722mph.

Explanation:

If the elevator takes 90 seconds to descend a height of 713m, the average speed of the elevator is:

$v_{av}=x_T/t_T=713m/90s=7.922m/s$

And if 1m/s is 2.23694mph, the average speed is:

$v_{av}=7.922m/s=17.722mph$.