To set a speed record in a measured (straight-line) distance d, a race car must be driven first in one direction (in time 11) and then in the opposite direction (in tim e t). (a) To eliminate the effects of the wind and obtain the car's speed v. in a windless situation, should we flnd the average of d/t1and d/t2 (method 1) or should we divide d by the average of t1 and tz? (b) What is the fractional difference in the two methods when a steady wind blows along the car's route and the ratio of the wind speed vrto the car's speed v, is 0.0240?

Answer: the correct answers is a) v = (1/2) [d/t1 + d/t2]

and b) fractional diff = diff/v = (u/v) ^2 = (0.0240) ^2 = 0,000576

Explanation:

v = speed of car with no wind

u = speed of the wind along the path of the car

v - u = speed when going against the wind

v + u = when going in the same direction as the wind

v - u = d/t1

v + u = d/t2

2v = [d/t1 + d/t2]

v = (1/2) [d/t1 + d/t2]

Of course the meanings of t1 and t2 are not important since they appear in the equation in exactly the same way. So the method to use is method 1.

u/v = 0.0240 so u = 0.0240v

Other method v = d/[ (t1 + t2) / 2] = (2) {1/[t1/d + t2/d]}

diff = (1/2) [d/t1 + d/t2] - (2) {1/[t1/d + t2/d]}

diff = (1/2) {d/t1 + d/t2 - 4/[t1/d + t2/d]}

diff = (1/2) {2v - 4/[1 / (v - u) + 1/v + u) ]}

diff = (1/2) {2v - 4 (v + u) (v - u) / 2v}

diff = [1 / (4v) ][4v^2 - 4 (v^2 - u^2) ]

diff = (u) (u/v) = u^2/v

fractional diff = diff/v = (u/v) ^2 = (0.0240) ^2 = 0,000576