Question

Four particles situated at the corners of a square of side a move at a constant speed v. Each particle maintains a direction towards the next particle in succesion, Calculate the time taken by the particles to meet each other

Answer 1

@SithsAndGiggles

Answer 2

@ikram002p @ganeshie8

Answer 3

If I'm understanding this correctly, it doesn't seem like the particles will ever meet each other. By the time one of the particles reaches another's starting location, the second particle is long gone (at another vertex of the square).

Answer 4

the answer is a/v

Answer 5

Yeah I must not be interpreting the situation properly

Answer 6

These guys will meet at center for sure

Answer 7

By symetry

Answer 8

a / v is the time taken by each particle to move from one corner to the next.

Answer 9

Yes, can you explain please

Answer 10

speed = distance / time
time = distance / speed = a / v.

But not sure how the particles will meet unless "in succession" means, A reaches B then B starts to move. Still does not make sense.

Answer 11

No you got the anwer correct , but probably there is more to the question
I will ask my prof

Answer 12

I don't think all the four particles will meet each other. They all are moving in 4 different directions.

Answer 13

There is a similar question like this , maybe we would get a idea by seeing that

Answer 14

I think the particles are chasing successively in a vanishing spiral - so they may meet each other at some point interior to the square

Answer 15

At the center