Kevin Is Thinking About Climbing Mt. Everest He Estimates Th

Kevin Is Thinking About Climbing Mt. Everest He Estimates That It

Kevin is contemplating various physical tasks, including climbing Mount Everest, cycling around the globe, swimming between Alcatraz and San Francisco, and completing an Ironman triathlon. These activities involve calculating speeds, durations, and distances based on given parameters. This essay analyzes each scenario to determine Kevin’s required performance levels to meet his goals, applying fundamental principles of distance, speed, and time calculations.

Understanding Climbing Speed of Mount Everest

In the first scenario, Kevin estimates that it will take him 144 hours to climb Mount Everest, which measures approximately 29,000 feet in height. To find the climbing speed, we divide the total height by the total time. First, convert the height into inches because the answers are in inches per second: 29,000 feet x 12 inches/foot = 348,000 inches. The total climbing time in seconds is 144 hours x 3600 seconds/hour = 518,400 seconds. Therefore, Kevin’s climbing speed is 348,000 inches / 518,400 seconds ≈ 0.672 inches per second. Among the options provided, the closest value is 0.671 inches per second, confirming the selected answer (c). This calculation indicates that Kevin would be climbing at nearly 0.67 inches per second, a remarkably slow pace suitable for high-altitude mountaineering, where conditions often impede rapid ascent.

Estimating Time to Circumference of the Earth by Bike

The second scenario involves Kevin contemplating biking around the Earth, which is approximately 25,000 miles in circumference. His average biking speed is 4 x 10^-3 miles per second. To determine the total time, divide the total distance by the speed: 25,000 miles / (0.004 miles/second) = 6,250,000 seconds. The closest multiple-choice answer is 6.25 million seconds (a). This duration equates to roughly 72 days, illustrating the vastness of Earth's circumference and the long time Kevin would need to complete such a journey, even at a seemingly moderate speed. This calculation highlights the massive scale of global circumnavigation when viewed through the lens of continuous high-speed biking.

Calculating Swimming Speed to Beat Record Time

In the third task, Kevin aims to swim 8,200 feet in less time than the current record of 37 minutes, reducing that time by 4 minutes to 33 minutes or 1,980 seconds. To find the necessary swimming speed, divide the distance by the time: 8,200 feet / 1,980 seconds ≈ 4.14 feet per second. Reviewing the options, the relevant closest value is 6.9 feet per second; however, precise calculation indicates that Kevin needs approximately 4.14 feet per second to meet his goal, which surpasses the given options. The answer options include 0.69 and 6.9 feet per second; since the required speed is over 4 feet per second, the closest choice that aligns with his goal (swimming faster) is 6.9 feet per second (a). This demonstrates the importance of speed in competitive swimming, especially over a fixed distance within a limited time.

Estimating the Total Duration of an Ironman Triathlon

The last scenario involves Kevin participating in an Ironman triathlon comprising three segments: swimming, biking, and running. The distances are 3,860 meters, 180,250 meters, and 42,200 meters respectively. The given speeds are 9,600 meters/hour for swimming, 32,000 meters/hour for biking, and 16,000 meters/hour for running. To estimate the total time, calculate the time spent on each segment:

• Swimming: 3,860 meters / 9,600 meters/hour ≈ 0.402 hours
• Biking: 180,250 meters / 32,000 meters/hour ≈ 5.633 hours
• Running: 42,200 meters / 16,000 meters/hour ≈ 2.637 hours

Summing these times yields approximately 8.67 hours. Rounding to the nearest whole number gives us 9 hours. Therefore, Kevin would need about 9 hours to complete the triathlon, aligning with option (b). This calculation emphasizes the endurance and speed required across varied physical activities within a fixed time frame, showcasing the athlete’s multi-disciplinary fitness demands.

Conclusion

These scenarios demonstrate the application of fundamental physics and mathematics principles in real-world athletic planning. By translating distances and times into speeds, Kevin can establish feasible goals for each activity—from the slow, strategic ascent of Mount Everest to the marathon effort of completing an Ironman triathlon. Understanding these calculations aids athletes in structuring training regimes, setting realistic performance targets, and appreciating the scope of different sporting challenges. Whether climbing, cycling, swimming, or running, precise numerical analysis guides effective planning and enhances performance strategies.

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