How Far Will Jill Run to Catch the Cart?

  • Thread starter Thread starter stangeroo
  • Start date Start date
  • Tags Tags
    Cart Incline
Click For Summary
SUMMARY

In the discussion, participants analyze the problem of Jill chasing a shopping cart rolling downhill on a 3-degree incline. The cart's acceleration is calculated using the formula 9.81sin(3°), resulting in a value that accounts for gravitational effects. Jill's acceleration is determined to be 2 m/s² plus the cart's acceleration. The key formula used to solve the problem is x = x_0 + v_0*t + 1/2at², where x_0 is the initial position and v_0 is the initial velocity.

PREREQUISITES
  • Understanding of basic kinematics
  • Knowledge of gravitational acceleration and its components
  • Familiarity with trigonometric functions, specifically sine
  • Ability to manipulate and solve quadratic equations
NEXT STEPS
  • Study the derivation of gravitational acceleration on an incline
  • Learn how to apply kinematic equations in real-world scenarios
  • Explore the effects of friction on rolling objects
  • Investigate the use of calculus in motion problems
USEFUL FOR

This discussion is beneficial for physics students, educators, and anyone interested in solving motion problems involving acceleration and incline dynamics.

stangeroo
Messages
13
Reaction score
0
Jill has just gotten out of her car in the grocery store parking lot. The parking lot is on a hill and is tilted 3 degrees. Fifty meters downhill from Jill, a little old lady let's go of a fully loaded shopping cart. The cart, with frictionless wheels, starts to roll straight downhill. Jill immediately starts to sprint after the cart with her top acceleration of 2 m/s^2

How far has the cart rolled before jill catches it?

I know you need to set two formulas equal to each other, but I don't know which formulas :cry:

EDIT: I started off by drawing it out and taking the sin of 3 degrees, .0523 and multiplying it by 9.8 to get the acceleration of the cart, I don't know where to go from there
 
Physics news on Phys.org
bump, anyone
 
the cart's acceleration is NOT 9.81 but 9.81sin(3°)

Jill's initial position and velocity is ZERO, her acceleration is 2 + 9.81sin(3°) due to gravity also.

For the cart : initial velocity is zero; initial position is 50 (i assume the 50m downward is along the hill and not measured horizontally)...This is all you need

Use x = x_0 + v_0*t + 1/2at²

where x_0 is initial position and v_0 is initial velocity
marlon
 
Last edited:

Similar threads

Replies
6
Views
6K
  • · Replies 3 ·
Replies
3
Views
5K
  • · Replies 3 ·
Replies
3
Views
2K
Replies
12
Views
5K
Replies
1
Views
4K
  • · Replies 4 ·
Replies
4
Views
4K
Replies
3
Views
2K
  • · Replies 9 ·
Replies
9
Views
5K
  • · Replies 4 ·
Replies
4
Views
17K
  • · Replies 4 ·
Replies
4
Views
3K