Father and Son Racing Kinetic Energy

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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
 
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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.
 
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