Question

A motorist traveling at a constant velocity of 20 m/s passes a school-crossing corner where the speed limit is 10 m/s (about 22 mi/h). A police officer on a motorcycle stopped at the corner starts off in pursuit with a constant acceleration of 2.5 m/s^2. What is the officer's speed when she catches up with the car? What is the total distance of the officer has traveled at that point?

Answer 1

set their two position functions equal to each other

the function for the motorist is

r=20t

the function for the police car is

r=(2.5/2)t^2

I assumed they started at the same time so

20t = (2.5/2)t^2 solve for t and then plug into the velocity function for police car and the position function of the police car

Answer 2

Does this make sense to you?

Answer 3

yes thank you!

Answer 4

what position equation would you use to derive the function? my teacher is picky

Answer 5

x=vo*t-(.5)*a*t^2