Finding Time and Vf: Car chase problem

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Homework Help Overview

The problem involves a scenario where one car, driven by Kyle, is moving at a constant speed while another car, driven by Cameron, accelerates after a delay. The objective is to determine the distance Cameron needs to travel to catch up with Kyle, Cameron's final velocity, and the time taken for this to occur. The context is rooted in kinematics, specifically dealing with constant velocity and acceleration.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory, Assumption checking, Problem interpretation

Approaches and Questions Raised

  • Participants discuss the use of kinematic equations to relate the positions of both cars over time, particularly questioning the original poster's assertion of insufficient information. There is an exploration of how to set up the equations for both Kyle and Cameron, considering the delay in Cameron's start.

Discussion Status

The discussion is ongoing, with some participants attempting to clarify the application of kinematic equations and addressing the original poster's concerns about missing information. There is a focus on understanding the relationship between the positions of the two cars over time.

Contextual Notes

Participants note that the original poster may be overlooking the information provided by the problem, particularly regarding the positions of both cars at various times. There is a mention of the quadratic formula being relevant, although its application in this context is not fully explored.

Benny98
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Here's the problem I was given:
Kyle is driving at a constant 45.0 m/s when he passes his street racer friend, Cameron. After a 4.00 second delay to get the car started and into gear, Cameron starts chasing Kyle with a constant acceleration of 2.00 m/s/s. How far will Cameron have to drive to catch Kyle, what will be Cameron's top
velocity, and how long will Cameron drive?

Somehow we are supposed to use the quadratic formula.
We haven't done that in class with this type of problem, only parabolic problems, and I don't know how to correlate the two. (ax^2+bx+c) I don't have enough information to use an equation like Vf=Vi+at or Xf=1/2at^2+Vi+Xi either.

What I've tried so far:

With the three graphs given, I could find the small bit of rectangular area in the first 4 seconds, but that doesn't really help me find anything. I tried different ways of attempting to find the area of the triangle that's formed, but I'm getting answers that don't make sense.

Can someone please explain what I need to do in a step-by-step format? I'm not sure how to start this.
Thank you!
 
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Benny98 said:
I don't have enough information to use an equation like Vf=Vi+at or Xf=1/2at^2+Vi+Xi
You do.
If Kyle passes Cameron at time 0, what is Kyle's position at time t? What is Cameron's position at time t (for t > 4s)?
 
haruspex said:
You do.
If Kyle passes Cameron at time 0, what is Kyle's position at time t? What is Cameron's position at time t (for t > 4s)?

Kyle would be 45m further than Cameron for each 1 of the 4 seconds (or a total of 180m further) Cameron at t>4s would increase by 2.0m/s/s...
 
Benny98 said:
Kyle would be 45m further than Cameron for each 1 of the 4 seconds (or a total of 180m further) Cameron at t>4s would increase by 2.0m/s/s...
No, I mean using the equations you quoted and said you had not enough information to use.

(This is weird. I replied on this thread 12 hours ago but my reply disappeared so I had to type it in again.)
 

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