Physics 100: Solving the Overtaking Problem of a Car and Train

  • Thread starter Thread starter alda00
  • Start date Start date
  • Tags Tags
    Homework Physics
Click For Summary

Homework Help Overview

The discussion revolves around a physics problem involving the overtaking scenario of a car and a train. The car travels at a speed of 95 km/h while the train moves at 75 km/h, with the train being 1.10 km long. Participants are exploring how to determine the time it takes for the car to overtake the train and the distance traveled by the car during this time.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory, Assumption checking, Mathematical reasoning

Approaches and Questions Raised

  • Participants discuss the relative motion of the car and train, suggesting that the car's speed relative to the train is crucial for solving the problem. Some emphasize the importance of drawing diagrams and considering the positions of both vehicles over time. Others question the assumptions made about the initial distances and the applicability of Newtonian mechanics.

Discussion Status

The discussion is active, with participants offering various insights and approaches to the problem. Some have provided equations to represent the positions of the car and train, while others are prompting further consideration of the problem's setup and the relative motion involved.

Contextual Notes

Participants note the requirement to show work for the solution and emphasize that the problem does not involve special relativity, indicating a focus on classical mechanics. There is also mention of the initial positioning of the car relative to the train, which may influence the calculations.

alda00
Messages
1
Reaction score
0
I have a homework problem that I can't solve, I have been spending some time on it. It goes like this...

An automobile traveling 95km/ overtakes a 1.10 km long train traveling i the same direction on a track parallel to the road. If the train's speed is 75kh/h how long does it take for the car to pass it, and how far will the care have traveled in this time?
 
Physics news on Phys.org
alda00 said:
I have a homework problem that I can't solve, I have been spending some time on it. It goes like this...

An automobile traveling 95km/ overtakes a 1.10 km long train traveling i the same direction on a track parallel to the road. If the train's speed is 75kh/h how long does it take for the car to pass it, and how far will the care have traveled in this time?

you must show your work, first.

try considering this question:
An automobile traveling 95 km/hr is 1.10 km behind a train(a point source) that is traveling at 75 km/hr, and so how long does it takes...?
 
always draw a diagram if in doubt
 
remember that all motion is relative so think of the way the car is moving relative to the train, so how long would it take?
 
by the way, with that sort of speed, I don't think it is a question involving special relativity either, so standard Newtonian mechanics and Galilean relativity are applicable
 
Denote the position of the front part of the train as y

y=75t+1.10

Denote the position of the car as

x=95t

You can see the logic of the equations above, at time t = 0, y=1.10km (correct!)
At time t=0, x=0(correct)

with the derived equations of the positions of the train and car, and for the car to overtake the train, their position have to be the same at a certain time t, so, what should you do?
 

Similar threads

  • · Replies 2 ·
Replies
2
Views
2K
Replies
8
Views
9K
  • · Replies 25 ·
Replies
25
Views
4K
  • · Replies 5 ·
Replies
5
Views
2K
Replies
1
Views
2K
  • · Replies 6 ·
Replies
6
Views
2K
  • · Replies 3 ·
Replies
3
Views
2K
  • · Replies 6 ·
Replies
6
Views
2K
  • · Replies 1 ·
Replies
1
Views
3K
  • · Replies 8 ·
Replies
8
Views
4K