Motion Calculations. Does the child catch the truck problem.

[powerxranger1]

A child is running at her maximum speed of 4m/s to catch an ice cream truck, which is stopped at the side of the road. When the child is 20m from the truck, the ice cream truck starts to accelerate away at a rate of 1.0m/s^2. Does the child catch the truck?

I know to begin, you must create an equation of both the child and the truck, but I'm having great dificulty doing so. The teacher didn't give us any form of equations so we have to come up with them on our own.

Please help!

 

[Borek]

Pet sematary.

Do you know equations of motion? With and without acceleration? If child covers 4 m/s, how far will it get in - say - 3 seconds?

Try to draw the situation, it should help.

 

[powerxranger1]

Well, I do know that distance = speed over time. But there isn't a time given in the question, so I don't understand.

 

[Borek]

Compare roads covered as a function of time and check if you can find time after which they are in the same place. If not - they will never meet in the same place.