Final answer:
To find the distance between two bicycles at time t = 0, we evaluated their positions from the given equations of motion at t = 0. The result is a distance of 15.6 meters between the two bicycles at the initial time.
Step-by-step explanation:
The question involves finding the distance between two bicycles at a specific time using their equations of motion. The equations given are:
- Equation for bicycle 1 (X₁): X₁ = -6.0 m + (7.5 m/s)t
- Equation for bicycle 2 (X₂): X₂ = 9.6 m - (4.5 m/s)t
To find the distance between the bicycles at t = 0, we evaluate both equations at t = 0:
- Position of bicycle 1 at t = 0: X₁(0) = -6.0 m
- Position of bicycle 2 at t = 0: X₂(0) = 9.6 m
The distance between the bicycles is the absolute difference between these two positions:
Distance = |X₂(0) - X₁(0)| = |9.6 m - (-6.0 m)| = |9.6 m + 6.0 m| = 15.6 m
Therefore, the distance between the two bicycles at t = 0 is 15.6 meters.