How Do Two Cars Accelerating Towards Each Other Meet?

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Two cars, a Prius and a RAV4, start from rest and accelerate towards each other from a distance of 1.9 km, with the Prius accelerating at 5.0 m/s² and the RAV4 at 4.5 m/s². To determine where they meet, one must apply kinematic equations, as the problem involves constant acceleration rather than simple addition of speeds. The calculations reveal that the two cars pass each other 900 meters from the RAV4's starting point and take 20 seconds to do so. It's crucial to differentiate between acceleration and velocity when solving such problems. Understanding these principles is key to finding the correct answers.
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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