In: Physics
Two cars approach each other. Initially they are separated by 1000 m. One car accelerates at 2 m/s^2 from rest. The other car travels at a constant speed of 20 m/s. Draw distance indicating how far from each of the cars' starting point the cars will collide.
let the two car meet after time "t"
for the car accelerating :
vo = initial velocity = 0 m/s
a = acceleration = 2 m/s2
x = displacement
t = time of travel
displacement is given as
x = vo t + (0.5) a t2
x = 0 t + (0.5) (2) t2
x = t2 eq-1
for the car going at constant speed :
v = constant velocity = 20 m/s
x' = displacement
t = time of travel
displacement is given as
x' = v t
x' = 20 t eq-2
given that :
x + x = 1000
t2 + 20 t = 1000
t = 23.2 sec
using equation 2
x' = 20 t
x' = 20 x 23.2
x' = 464 m