How Far Can the Hare Let the Tortoise Approach Before Resuming the Race?

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Homework Help Overview

The problem involves a race between a hare and a tortoise over a distance of 1.00 km, where the tortoise moves at a constant speed of 0.200 m/s and the hare runs at 8.00 m/s for part of the race before stopping to tease the tortoise. The question is how close the hare can allow the tortoise to approach the finish line before resuming the race.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory, Assumption checking, Problem interpretation

Approaches and Questions Raised

  • Participants discuss the time it takes for both the hare and the tortoise to reach the finish line from a certain point. There is an exploration of the equations of motion and how they apply to the scenario. Some participants question the assumptions about the distances remaining for each animal at different points in the race.

Discussion Status

There is ongoing discussion about the calculations and the correct application of equations. Some participants have offered guidance on the equations to use, while others are clarifying the conditions of the problem, particularly regarding the tortoise's continuous movement.

Contextual Notes

Participants note that the hare has 0.200 km left to the finish line, while there is confusion about the tortoise's distance remaining. The discussion includes the need to consider the tortoise's constant speed and the implications of the hare's stopping behavior.

Aerosion
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Homework Statement



Kind of wordy, please bear with me:

A hare and a tortoise compete in a rase over a course 1.00 km long. The tortoise crawls straight at its maximum speed of 0.200m/s. The hare runs 8.00m/s for 0.800 km and stops to tease the tortoise. How close to the goal can the hare let the tortoise approach before resuming the race?

Assume both animals move steadily at their respective speeds.

Homework Equations



xf=1/2(Vi + Vf)*t

The Attempt at a Solution



So I used the above equation. I figure, tehy have 0.200km left to go after the hare stops. So I transfer .200km to m, and plug the numbers into the above equation to find out how long it would take the rabbit to get to the finish from there. I did the same for the turtle.

200=1/2(0+8.00)*t t=50s (rabbit)
200=1/2(0+.200)*t t=2000s (turtle)

So I saw it was a difference of 1950, so I decided to use the same equation to see how many meters the turtle could cover in 1950s, which would be how far the rabbit could afford to have the turtle get.

xf = 1/2(0+0.200)1500s xf=195m = 0.195km

Doesn't look right. Any suggestions?
 
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Aerosion said:

Homework Statement



Kind of wordy, please bear with me:

A hare and a tortoise compete in a rase over a course 1.00 km long. The tortoise crawls straight at its maximum speed of 0.200m/s. The hare runs 8.00m/s for 0.800 km and stops to tease the tortoise. How close to the goal can the hare let the tortoise approach before resuming the race?

Assume both animals move steadily at their respective speeds.

Homework Equations



xf=1/2(Vi + Vf)*t


The Attempt at a Solution



So I used the above equation. I figure, tehy have 0.200km left to go after the hare stops. So I transfer .200km to m, and plug the numbers into the above equation to find out how long it would take the rabbit to get to the finish from there. I did the same for the turtle.

200=1/2(0+8.00)*t t=50s (rabbit)
200=1/2(0+.200)*t t=2000s (turtle)

So I saw it was a difference of 1950, so I decided to use the same equation to see how many meters the turtle could cover in 1950s, which would be how far the rabbit could afford to have the turtle get.

xf = 1/2(0+0.200)1500s xf=195m = 0.195km

Doesn't look right. Any suggestions?
the equation you need is the position function

X =X_o +V_ot + \frac{1}{2}at^2

though you're not given acceleration for the rabbit so i don't know.

and the equation for the tortoise is

X = V_ot

because you don't mention that the tortoise stops.
 
Only the rabbit has .2 km left. Your indicating that the turtle has .2km left when the rabbit does.

You want to find out how many s the rabbit will need to get to the finish line, then how many km away from the finish line that many seconds is for the turtle (based on his speed).

Then you have to find a difference between two positions. Which ones do you think?
 
Pythagorean said:
Only the rabbit has .2 km left. Your indicating that the turtle has .2km left when the rabbit does.

You want to find out how many s the rabbit will need to get to the finish line, then how many km away from the finish line that many seconds is for the turtle (based on his speed).

Then you have to find a difference between two positions. Which ones do you think?

Oh oh oh...okay, I already have how many seconds the rabbit needs to get to the finish line in .2km (50s, from above).

I should use xf=(1/2)(Vi+Vf)t, right? (1/2)(0+0.200m/s)*50s = 5.00m.

This seems more correct. If it is, thanks.
 
Aerosion said:
Oh oh oh...okay, I already have how many seconds the rabbit needs to get to the finish line in .2km (50s, from above).

I should use xf=(1/2)(Vi+Vf)t, right? (1/2)(0+0.200m/s)*50s = 5.00m.

This seems more correct. If it is, thanks.

the turtle never stops, his average velocity is the .2m/s not \frac{1}{2}(0+.200\frac{m}{s})
 

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