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Linear Motion Problem Solving Guide

The document is a physics question about linear motion asking how long it takes a bus accelerating at 1.5 m/s^2 to catch up to a cyclist traveling at a constant 12 m/s. It provides the relevant equations for average velocity, initial and final velocities, displacement, and change in velocity. The best answer shows that: (a) The bus reaches the same speed as the cyclist after 8 seconds. (b) It takes the bus 16 seconds to catch the cyclist. (c) The cyclist has traveled 192 meters before being caught.

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781 views2 pages

Linear Motion Problem Solving Guide

The document is a physics question about linear motion asking how long it takes a bus accelerating at 1.5 m/s^2 to catch up to a cyclist traveling at a constant 12 m/s. It provides the relevant equations for average velocity, initial and final velocities, displacement, and change in velocity. The best answer shows that: (a) The bus reaches the same speed as the cyclist after 8 seconds. (b) It takes the bus 16 seconds to catch the cyclist. (c) The cyclist has traveled 192 meters before being caught.

Uploaded by

nicky1213a
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© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd

Linear motion question (physics) need help

please?
I've been given a physics question and the following equations to solve them:

V(average)=(u=v)/2

v=u+at

x=((u+v)/2)t

x=ut+(1/2)at^2

x=vt-(1/2)at^2

v^2=u^2+2ax

where:
x = displacement(m)
u = initial velocity(ms^-1)
v = final velocity(ms^-1)
a = acceleration(ms^-2)
t = time(s)

the question being:

A cyclist, Anna, is traveling at a constant speed of 12ms^-1 when she passes a stationary bus.
The bus starts moving just as Anna passes, and it accelerates uniformly at 1.5ms^-2.
(a) When does the bus reach the same speed as Anna?
(b) How long does the bus take to catch Anna?
(c) What distance has Anna traveled before the bus catches up?

Can i please get working out showing use of what formulas i would appreciate any answers
thank you.
Best Answer - Chosen by Voters
a/. v = u + at, where v is Anna's speed, or v = 12 m/s, u is the initial speed of the bus, 0 m/s, and
a is the acceleration, 1.5 m/s. Since u = 0, the equation reduces to v = at, and rearranges to t =
v/a = (12 m/s)/(1.5 m/s) = 8 s.

b/. The instant the bus starts moving is time t = 0. The time the bus catches Anna is the time at
which both Anna and the bus have travelled the same distance.
Note that when speed is constant, as is the case for Anna, distance travelled is just speed times
time. So if t is the time, the distance travelled by Anna is given by x = 12t.
And the distance the bus has travelled can be found from the equation x = ut + 1/2 at. In this
case u = 0, so this reduces to x = 1/2 at, and a = 1.5, so the distance the bus has travelled is x =
0.75t.

Now when the bus catches Anna, x is the same for both, so you must have 12t = 0.75t.
Obviously true when t =0, but when else is it true? Cancelling one t, you have 0.75t = 12, and
therefore t = 12/0.75 = 16 s.


c/. Recall from part b that the distance Anna has travelled is just x = 12t. Substitute in t = 16 to
get
x = 12*16 = 192 m.

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