A motorcycle is following a car that is traveling at constant speed on a straight highway. Initially, the car and the motorcycle are both traveling at the same speed of 21.5 m/s, and the distance between them is 52.0 m. After t1 = 4.00 s, the motorcycle starts to accelerate at a rate of 6.00 m/s2. The motorcycle catches up with the car at some time t2. How long does it take from the moment when the motorcycle starts to accelerate until it catches up with the car? In other words, find t2-t1? How far does the motorcycle travel from the moment it starts to accelerate (at time t1) until it catches up with the car (at time t2) ?

Question

Dominique Richard

Physics

6 May, 14:29

A motorcycle is following a car that is traveling at constant speed on a straight highway. Initially, the car and the motorcycle are both traveling at the same speed of 21.5 m/s, and the distance between them is 52.0 m. After t1 = 4.00 s, the motorcycle starts to accelerate at a rate of 6.00 m/s2. The motorcycle catches up with the car at some time t2. How long does it take from the moment when the motorcycle starts to accelerate until it catches up with the car? In other words, find t2-t1? How far does the motorcycle travel from the moment it starts to accelerate (at time t1) until it catches up with the car (at time t2) ?

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Answers (1)

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Andreas Salinas · Answer 1

a) t = 4.16 s

b) x = 141.51 m

Explanation:

Given

v = 21.5 m/s

x0 = 52.0 m

a = 6.0 m/s²

a) Motorcycle

x = v0*t + (a*t²/2)

x = 21.5t + (6*t²/2)

x = 21.5t + 3t² (I)

Car

x = x0 + v0*t

x = 52 + 21.5t (II)

then we can apply I = II

21.5t + 3t² = 52 + 21.5t

⇒ 3t² = 52

⇒ t = 4.16 s

b) We can use I or II, then

x = 52 + 21.5 * (4.16)

⇒ x = 141.51 m