Calculating Time, Distance, and Velocity in a Kinematic Problem

[9giddjl]

hard kinematic problem, need...help...pls:)

Homework Statement

A policeman (on a motorcycle, with the engine going) is hiding behind a bush on the side of the road when a speeding truck passes with a speed of 96.5 km/h. As the truck passess he sets off with an acceleration of 1.83 m/s, which he maintains until he overtakes it. Calculate:
a) the time he took to overtake the truck
b) the distance he traveled in doing so
c) the velocity, in km/h, of the motor cycle when it catches the truck.

Homework Equations

The Attempt at a Solution

Well first i converted 96.5 hm/h into m/s which is 26.8 m/s and i know that his acceleration doesn't change, I am just wondering is the policeman's final velocity the speed that the truck is traveling at which is 26.8 m/s? And is his initial velocity 0? and his acceleration is 1.83 so i thort that i cud use v=u+at to work out a)
i think I am on the wrong track though actually I pretty sure I am. Can someone pls help me and also can sum1 pls tell me sum things that i shud look out for when trying to solve these really hard straight line motion questions. Like i get the simple ones but it is just ones similar to these that i find difficult. I appreciate all the help! Thankyou!:)

 

[Hootenanny]

im just wondering is the policeman's final velocity the speed that the truck is traveling at which is 26.8 m/s?

You can't assume that the final two velocities are the same, in some cases it may very well be that the two have the same final velocity, but this is not generally the case.

Instead, what do you know about the distance between the truck and the bike at the time your trying to find?

 

[9giddjl]

um i don't know a distance.. or maybe I cannot see it

 

[Hootenanny]

um i don't know a distance.. or maybe I cannot see it

When the bike is level with the truck, where is their separation?

 

[9giddjl]

they're at the same distance?

 

[9giddjl]

so we need to find the time when the distances are the same?

 

[Hootenanny]

they're at the same distance?

so we need to find the time when the distances are the same?

Correct