Can the passenger catch the train if the platform is long enough?

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The problem involves a late passenger attempting to catch a train that starts moving from a stationary position. The passenger is sprinting at a speed of 8.0 m/s and is initially 30.0 m away from the rear end of the train, which accelerates at 1.0 m/s². The question posed is whether the passenger can catch the train given that the platform is long enough.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory, Conceptual clarification, Mathematical reasoning

Approaches and Questions Raised

  • Participants discuss the initial conditions of the problem, including the distance of the passenger from the train and the speeds involved. Some participants express uncertainty about their previous attempts and the equations they have used, while others suggest focusing on the positions of both the passenger and the train as functions of time.

Discussion Status

The discussion is ongoing, with participants exploring various approaches to the problem. Some guidance has been offered regarding the formulation of position equations for both the passenger and the train, and there is an emphasis on understanding the relationship between their positions over time.

Contextual Notes

Participants note the importance of clearly stating their previous work and reasoning, as well as the need to rephrase the question to clarify the relationship between the passenger's and train's positions.

cocoavi
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Mmmm if it's not too much of a problem could someone help me with the following question?:

A late passenger sprinting at 8.0m/s is 30.0m away from the rear end of a train when it starts out of the station with an acceleration of 1.0m/s^2. Can the passenger catch the train if the platform is long enough?

THX!
 
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well, he's pretty far from it, but already going fast. The train's not too quick.

You're SUPPOSED to tell us what you've already done, and how you're thinking about this situation (see "sticky" thread at the top)
 
I'm sorry I know I should be telling what I've already done.. but I just don't think I'm doing it right and I've just been taking random equations and working on them..~ well.. I did d=vit + 0.5at^2 + 30... to make d=0.5t^2 +30 for the train.. but I have no idea why I did that T_T..
 
there are several ways to answer this question, each approach valid, so
we want to "guide" you in an approach that "makes sense" to you already.

If you try to catch a train (or anything else!) it is nice to know where it is.
It is also nice to know where YOU are. So, where is this fast runner?
 
Try rephrasing the question. It asks you whether the passenger can catch the train. That is equivalent to asking if at any time the positions of the passenger and the train are the same. So, now you know what to do. You must write both the positions as functions of time. How does the position of both the passengers depend on time? Is there any value of t for which both the functions give the same position?
 

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