This Sports Rates (metric) equation computes the average rate, the average speed of an athlete, from the distance of his competition and the time elapsed.

APPLICATION

How fast is an athlete? 

• How fast is a world class sprinter running on average to win the 100 meter dash? 
• How fast is that swimmer cruising through the water in the 200 meter backstroke?
• How fast is that bobsled really traveling?

INPUTS

You input the total distance -- for instance, the 100 meters of the 100 meter sprint -- and the time posted to win the race and this equation will tell you the athlete's speed in kilometers per hour. So, you can imagine driving alongside the athlete at their top speed.

For those not thinking in the metric system, click on the output units, change them to miles per hour and see how fast they would clock against your car's odometer in the US.

Notes

You have choices of units and so can combine more than just kilometers and meters to represent the distance.  However, in the SI system race distances are probably measured in either meters alone, kilometers alone, or in kilometers and meters.

The outputs can be changed to see the results in US units if you desire.  For example, you could input 100 kilometers for distance and 1 hour for time (putting zeroes in meters and seconds inputs) and then change the output units to mph.  You will see a value of approximately 62.1 mph.  This is a common sight on a US automobile where the speedometer will usually display both mph and km/h and so you often simultaneously see that as you approach 60 mph you are approaching 100 km/h.