Need for Speed (MS On Grade) _P02_higher (New)
What is the definition of the term ‘fast’? How fast or slow an object travels is called speed. One way to describe speed is relative or by comparing one object to another. You can run fast, but maybe your older brother is much faster. A bicycle can be fast; however, a motorcycle is definitely faster.
Scientists often use numbers to describe speed. They measure the distance an object has traveled and divide it by the time it takes to get to a destination. For example, a car might travel 60 miles on an interstate highway. It takes the car about one hour to get to the intended destination. If you divide 60 miles by one hour, the result is sixty miles per hour or more commonly written as 60 mph. By using numbers, you can describe exactly how fast an object is going.
Speed = Distance/Time
So can you think of some objects that travel at high speeds? Of course, a car can travel pretty quickly. Some cars travel faster than others, though most cars are built to safely travel at highway speeds of around 65 miles per hour (65 mph).
The cars used in stock car racing can travel over 200 mph or even faster! Stock car racing is very popular in America, with tens of thousands of fans filling stadiums every weekend to cheer on their favorite team and driver. The cars may look like a car you see out on the road, but their design is completely different. Underneath the car’s exterior, the mechanical workings have been developed to work harder and much more efficiently.
Engines in stock cars are superior to the vehicle you travel to school in every day. You will also find none of the comforts found in your parents’ car. Stock cars are built to do one thing and one thing only—to go fast!