Help with a relativity question

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Homework Help Overview

The problem involves calculating the time taken to travel a distance at an airport under different conditions: walking on a broken moving sidewalk versus standing on a functioning one. The context is rooted in concepts from kinematics and relative motion.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory, Assumption checking, Problem interpretation

Approaches and Questions Raised

  • Participants discuss the relationship between time, distance, and speed, with some suggesting the use of ratios and others referencing derivatives. There is an exploration of different scenarios based on whether the sidewalk is working or broken.

Discussion Status

The discussion is ongoing, with participants clarifying the question and exploring various interpretations of the problem. Some have proposed equations that might relate the different scenarios, while others are seeking to confirm their understanding of the setup.

Contextual Notes

Participants are considering the implications of different segments of travel, specifically distinguishing between walking on a non-moving floor and a moving sidewalk. There is also a focus on the exact wording of the problem as it may influence the interpretation.

Roscoe1989
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1. ok, my dad and I are trying to solve this problem, but we're both having difficulty:
"When the moving sidewalk at the airport is broken, as it often seems to be, it takes you 50 s to walk from your gate to baggage claim. When it is working and you stand on the moving sidewalk the entire way, it takes 75 s to travel the same distance. How long will it take you to travel from the gate to baggage claim?





3. I think it has something to do with ratios, but he said something about derivatives. Please help!
 
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t=d/(v1+v2)=d/(d/t1 +d/t2)=t1*t2/(t1+t2)

Should help?
 
How long will it take you to travel from the gate to baggage claim?

Still trying to find out what you are asking:

4 scenarios:
Broken -- standing = ∞ s
Broken -- walking = 50 s
Working --standing = 75 s
Working --walking = ? is this what you are trying to find out?
 
i believe so. the question is asking how long will it take to get to baggage claim if the machine is working and you are walking on in.
 
Are we thinking (like in regular airports) there is a section, d1, of a non-moving floor and a section, d2, of a moving sidewalk?
 
yes i think so. i copied the question exactly.
iRaid- how did you get from d/(d/t1+d/t2)=t1*t2/t1+t2?
 

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