Login

Welcome, Guest. Please login or register.

November 01, 2025, 09:07:27 am

Author Topic: Need help with question on Equations of Motion  (Read 918 times)  Share 

0 Members and 1 Guest are viewing this topic.

atom

  • New South Welsh
  • Trailblazer
  • *
  • Posts: 28
  • Respect: 0
  • School Grad Year: 2014
Need help with question on Equations of Motion
« on: March 10, 2012, 02:30:08 pm »
0
Please help me with this question:

A cyclist is travelling at a constant speed of 12m/s when she passes a stationary bus. The bus starts moving just as the cyclist passes, and  it accelerates uniformly at 1.5m/s.
a) How long does the bus take to catch up with the cyclist?
b) What distance has the cyclist travelled before the bus catches up?

Thanks in advance  ;)

Lasercookie

  • Honorary Moderator
  • ATAR Notes Legend
  • *******
  • Posts: 3167
  • Respect: +326
Re: Need help with question on Equations of Motion
« Reply #1 on: March 10, 2012, 02:48:52 pm »
+2
The best way to approach motion questions when you're stuck is to write out everything you know - including formulae.

So:
Quote
A cyclist is travelling at a constant speed of 12m/s when she passes a stationary bus. The bus starts moving just as the cyclist passes, and  it accelerates uniformly at 1.5m/s.

Cyclist:

Bus:

You know that when they catch up, they will be at the same point distance wise.
So:












So using null factor law, t=0 and t=16. We can reject t=0 in this case, since we know that was when they started.
So the answer is t=16 seconds.

For part b, you can just sub 16 into our original equations:
Cyclist:

Bus:
« Last Edit: March 10, 2012, 02:50:28 pm by laseredd »

atom

  • New South Welsh
  • Trailblazer
  • *
  • Posts: 28
  • Respect: 0
  • School Grad Year: 2014
Re: Need help with question on Equations of Motion
« Reply #2 on: March 10, 2012, 03:15:05 pm »
0
thanks mate