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Solidearth
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Homework Statement
Your school science club has devised a special event for homecoming. You've attached a rocket to the rear of a small car that has been decorated in the blue-and-gold school colors. The rocket provides a constant acceleration for 9s. As the rocket shuts off, a parachute opens and slows the car at a rate of 5m/s^2. The car passes the judges' box in the center of the grandstand, 990m from the starting line, exactly 12s after you fire the rocket.
Homework Equations
Kinematics equations
The Attempt at a Solution
by splitting the car's motion into two segments (car+rocket, and car+parachute) the motion is easier to discuss.
car+rocket
vo=0m/s
to=0s
tf=9.0s
xo=0m
xf=unknown
a=unknown
vfrocket=unknown
car+parachute
vo=unknown
vf=unknown
xo=xfrocket
xfchute=990m
achute=-5.0m/s2
ti=9s
tf=12s
okay but now what, there are too many unknown variables, where would i even start?