To find the average speed, we need to calculate the total distance traveled and the total time taken.
1. **Total Distance:** The distances covered by the cyclist are:
- First hour: 1 km
- Second hour: 5 km
- Third hour: 3 km
So, the total distance is:
Total Distance = 1 km + 5 km + 3 km = 9 km
2. **Total Time:** The time taken is given as 3 hours (1 hour for each part of the journey).
Total Time = 3 hours
3. **Average Speed Formula:** The average speed is calculated using the formula:
Average Speed = Total Distance / Total Time
Inserting the values we have:
Average Speed = 9 km / 3 hours = 3 km/hr
4. **Convert to m/s:** To convert kilometers per hour to meters per second, we multiply by a conversion factor:
1 km/hr = 1/3.6 m/s
So:
3 km/hr = 3 / 3.6 m/s ≈ 0.833 m/s
Thus, the average speed of the cyclist is 3 km/hr or approximately 0.833 m/s.