Question

A car starts from rest and accelerates uniformly at 3.0 m/s2 toward the north. a second car starts from rest 6.0 s later at the same point and accelerates uniformly at 5.0 m/s2 toward the north. how long after the second car starts does it overtake the first car?

Answer 1

the answer is t = 20.625

Explanation:

To begin, you would need to find the displacement of the first car and the equation to find that is d = 1/2at^2. So you would plug in what you have from the problem into the equation: d = (1/2)3(6)^2 and d is equal to 54 m. THIS IS YOUR DISPLACEMENT FOR THE FIRST CAR.

Next, you need to find the velocity of the car and the equation would be v = at. Plug in what you know from the problem: v = 3(6) which is 18. THIS IS YOUR INITIAL VELOCITY.

Next, we need to find out the distance of the 2nd car and we would use d = 1/2at^2. Plug in what you now from the problem: d = (1/2)5t^2 which would be d = 2.5t^2.

Next, you would equal these two equations together: 2.5t^2 = 1.5t^2 + 18t +54. All these values are from when we solved them from above, and once you solve it you will get 20.625. (SOLVE FOR T)