Solving a Linear Motion Question: Two Cars, 70km & 4.4m/s & 2.5m/s

Do you know any equations that might be useful? The more you can tell us about your own thoughts on the problem, the more we can help.In summary, the question involves two cars moving in a straight line with different velocities. The distance between them is 70km and the question asks when they will meet if they are moving towards each other or in the same direction.
  • #1
agbe981
2
0
i have a problem solving a linear motion question, this is the question

two cars moving in a straight line of 70km with velocities 4.4m/s and the other 2.5m/s. when will they meet if

a) they moved towards each other
b) they moved in the same direction.
 
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  • #2
two cars moving in a straight line of 70km with velocities 4.4m/s and the other 2.5m/s. when will they meet if

a) they moved towards each other
b) they moved in the same direction.
 
  • #3
agbe981 said:
i have a problem solving a linear motion question, this is the question

two cars moving in a straight line of 70km with velocities 4.4m/s and the other 2.5m/s. when will they meet if

a) they moved towards each other
b) they moved in the same direction.
Welcome to PF,

Firstly we have Homework forums for textbook questions, don't worry about it now, a mentor will move your posts there in due course.

Secondly, we don't solve homework questions for you! You have to do some work of your own! What have you attempted thus far? Have you any ideas?
 

FAQ: Solving a Linear Motion Question: Two Cars, 70km & 4.4m/s & 2.5m/s

How do you calculate the distance traveled by each car?

To calculate the distance traveled by each car, you can use the formula d = rt, where d is the distance, r is the rate or speed of the car, and t is the time. In this case, car 1 has a speed of 4.4m/s and car 2 has a speed of 2.5m/s. So, the distance traveled by car 1 would be d = (4.4m/s) * t and the distance traveled by car 2 would be d = (2.5m/s) * t.

How long will it take for car 1 to catch up to car 2?

To calculate the time it takes for car 1 to catch up to car 2, you can use the formula t = d/r, where t is the time, d is the distance between the two cars, and r is the relative speed of car 1 compared to car 2. In this case, the relative speed would be 4.4m/s - 2.5m/s = 1.9m/s. So, the time it takes for car 1 to catch up to car 2 would be t = (70km) / (1.9m/s) = 36.84 seconds.

What is the average velocity of each car?

The average velocity of each car can be calculated by dividing the total distance traveled by the total time taken. In this case, car 1 travels 70km and car 2 travels 0km in 36.84 seconds. So, the average velocity of car 1 would be 70km / 36.84 seconds = 1.9km/s and the average velocity of car 2 would be 0km / 36.84 seconds = 0km/s.

Can you determine the acceleration of each car?

Yes, the acceleration of each car can be determined using the formula a = (vf - vi) / t, where a is the acceleration, vf is the final velocity, vi is the initial velocity, and t is the time. In this case, car 1 has a final velocity of 4.4m/s and an initial velocity of 0m/s, and car 2 has a final velocity of 2.5m/s and an initial velocity of 0m/s. So, the acceleration of car 1 would be a = (4.4m/s - 0m/s) / 36.84 seconds = 0.12m/s^2 and the acceleration of car 2 would be a = (2.5m/s - 0m/s) / 36.84 seconds = 0.07m/s^2.

How can you use this information to determine the relative positions of the two cars?

To determine the relative positions of the two cars, you can plot their positions on a graph with time on the x-axis and distance on the y-axis. The point where the two lines intersect would be the point where car 1 catches up to car 2. Additionally, you can also use the information about the distance and time to calculate the change in position between the two cars at any given time.

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