Father and Son Racing Kinetic Energy

  • Thread starter Thread starter Arman777
  • Start date Start date
  • Tags Tags
    Work
Click For Summary

Homework Help Overview

The problem involves a father and son racing, where the father initially has half the kinetic energy of the son, who has half the mass of the father. After the father speeds up by 1.0 m/s, he is said to have the same kinetic energy as the son. The task is to determine the original speeds of both the father and the son.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory, Assumption checking, Mathematical reasoning

Approaches and Questions Raised

  • Participants discuss the relationships between the masses and kinetic energies of the father and son, using the equation for kinetic energy. They explore the implications of the father's speed increase and how it affects the kinetic energy equality.

Discussion Status

Some participants have provided feedback on the original poster's calculations and reasoning, noting where they believe errors may have occurred. There is an ongoing exploration of the mathematical relationships involved, with no explicit consensus reached on the correct speeds.

Contextual Notes

The original poster expresses uncertainty about their understanding of the problem, indicating potential language barriers. There is also mention of a discrepancy between the poster's calculated speed and a reference from a book.

Arman777
Insights Author
Gold Member
Messages
2,163
Reaction score
191

Homework Statement


A father racing his son has half the kinetic energy of the son,who has half the mass of the father.The father speeds up by ##1.0\frac {m} {s}## and then has the same kinetic energy as the son.What are the original speeds of (a)the father and (b) the son

Homework Equations


##E_k=\frac 1 2 mv^2##

The Attempt at a Solution


[/B]##m_f=2m_s##
##2E_f=E_s##

İnital situation;
##2E_f= m_f(v_{f_0})^2=E_s=\frac 1 2 m_s(v_{s_0})^2##

so
##m_f=2m_s##

then we will obtain ##4(v_{f_0})^2=(v_{s_0})^2##

Final situation

##\frac 1 2 m_f(v_{f_0}+1)^2=\frac 1 2 m_s(v_{s_0})^2##

then I get ##v_{f_0}=1\frac {m} {s}## which book says its ##2.4\frac {m} {s}##

Where I am going wrong ? (My native language is not english so If made a mistake in understanding the question so sorry )

Thanks
 
Last edited:
Physics news on Phys.org
Arman777 said:
##\frac 1 2 m_f(v_{f_0}+1)^2=\frac 1 2 m_s(v_{s_0})^2##
Everything looks good here. Show how you got your answer.
 
Doc Al said:
Everything looks good here. Show how you got your answer.

##\frac 1 2 m_f(v_{f_0}+1)^2=\frac 1 2 m_s(v_{s_0})^2##

we know that

##m_f=2m_s##
so
##\frac 1 2 2m_s(v_{f_0}+1)^2=\frac 1 2 m_s(v_{s_0})^2##

then we get ;

##2m_s(v_{f_0}+1)^2=m_s(v_{s_0})^2##

##2(v_{f_0}+1)^2=(v_{s_0})^2## (1)

##\frac {(v_{s_0})^2} 2=2(v_{f_0})^2## (2) From the ##4(v_{f_0})^2=(v_{s_0})^2##

lets put this ##Eq_2## in the ##Eq_1##

##(v_{f_0}+1)^2=2(v_{f_0})^2##

##(v_{f_0})^2+2(v_{f_0})+1=2(v_{f_0})^2##

##(v_{f_0})^2-2(v_{f_0})-1=0##

##((v_{f_0})-1)^2=0##

##(v_{f_0})=1\frac {m} {s}##
 
Arman777 said:
##(v_{f_0})^2-2(v_{f_0})-1=0##

##((v_{f_0})-1)^2=0##
This is where you're messing up.
 
  • Like
Likes   Reactions: Arman777
Doc Al said:
This is where you're messing up.

Oh I see.Thanks.unbelievable...
 

Similar threads

Replies
27
Views
1K
  • · Replies 33 ·
2
Replies
33
Views
2K
Replies
10
Views
3K
  • · Replies 6 ·
Replies
6
Views
1K
Replies
2
Views
977
  • · Replies 3 ·
Replies
3
Views
2K
  • · Replies 5 ·
Replies
5
Views
1K
  • · Replies 28 ·
Replies
28
Views
2K
Replies
11
Views
3K
  • · Replies 4 ·
Replies
4
Views
2K