How Do Two Cars Accelerating Towards Each Other Meet?

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Homework Help Overview

The discussion revolves around a kinematics problem involving two cars, a Prius and a RAV4, that are accelerating towards each other from rest, with specified accelerations and an initial distance apart. The original poster seeks to determine the point at which the cars meet and the time it takes for them to do so.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory, Assumption checking, Conceptual clarification

Approaches and Questions Raised

  • The original poster expresses confusion about the problem and seeks assistance in understanding the calculations involved. Some participants prompt for initial thoughts and working steps, while others clarify that the values given are accelerations, not velocities.

Discussion Status

The discussion is ongoing, with participants questioning the original poster's approach and encouraging clarification of concepts related to kinematics. There is no explicit consensus yet, as participants are still exploring the problem and its assumptions.

Contextual Notes

The original poster's calculations appear to be based on a misunderstanding of the relationship between acceleration and the distances traveled by the cars. There is an emphasis on the need for correct application of kinematic equations.

sekishi
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..hi.. I am just a newbie here and i am just confuse in this question...
can you please help me...

A Prius and a RAV4 are initially at rest and 1.9 km apart start moving toward each other at the same time. The Prius accelerates at 5.0 m/s² and the RAV4 accelerates at 4.5 m/s² . assume that their acceleration is constant throughout the time duration.

a. At what point from the RAV4's starting point in m will the 2 cars pass each other?
b. how many seconds(from the starting point) will it take for them to pass each othr from the stating point?


why would the ans. in letter a is 900 and in b is 20 s
 
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Welcome to PF sekishi,

Please show some working or intial thoughts, you are required to do so before we can help you.

~H
 
well... i don't know.. mmmhh,, i just add up 4.5 and 5 and get 9.5... i then divide it in 1900... and i got 200... not 900
 
Okay, what kinematics equations do you know?

~H
 
The important point to note here is that the numbers given are acclerations not velcoities.

~H
 

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