Question

Two steamrollers begin 100 m apart and head toward each other, each at a constant speed of 1.00 m/s . At the same instant, a fly that travels at a constant speed of 2.40 m/s starts from the front roller of the southbound steamroller and flies to the front roller of the northbound one, then turns around and flies to the front roller of the southbound once again, and continues in this way until it is crushed between the steamrollers in a collision.

What distance does the fly travel?

Answer 1

The fly travels 2.4 m

Step-by-step explanation:

Since the Two steamrollers begin 100 m apart and head toward each other, each at a constant speed of 1.00 m/s, we can find the time until they crash by the formula:

Distance = Speed × Time

Time = Distance /Speed

Time = (100 m) / (1 m/s)

Time = 100 hours

Now, the fly will spend the same amount of time traveling as the steamrollers.

Since the fly moves at a speed of 2.4 m/s and we have a time of one hour the steamroller take to collide, then the fly will go a distance of;

Distance = speed x time = 2.4 × 1 = 2.4 m