Questions about speed and motion of a toy car on a conveyor belt

[Tonyapplepan]

Homework Statement

A toy car moves from X to Y and back to X at a constant speed. If the conveyor belt moves with a constant speed in the same direction throughout, the round trip of the toy car takes time t1. If the conveyor belt remains stationary throughout, the round trip of the toy car takes time t2. What is the conclusion drawn if you compare t1and t2? How can I prove it? :)

Relevant Equations

Average speed=total distance/total time

A toy car moves from X to Y and back to X at a constant speed. If the conveyor belt moves with a constant speed in the same direction throughout, the round trip of the toy car takes time t1. If the conveyor belt remains stationary throughout, the round trip of the toy car takes time t2. What is the conclusion drawn if you compare t1and t2? How can I prove it? :)

 

[haruspex]

I assume X and Y are points fixed in the ground frame. (Perhaps there was a diagram?)
Per forum rules, please post an attempt.

"Relevant Equations" is for any standard equations you feel will be relevant, such as general equations for (constant) speed, time, and distance.

 

[Tonyapplepan]

I assume X and Y are points fixed in the ground frame. (Perhaps there was a diagram?)
Per forum rules, please post an attempt.

"Relevant Equations" is for any standard equations you feel will be relevant, such as general equations for (constant) speed, time, and distance.

Sorry that I didn’t gives a clear explanation,actually I think the diagram is quite misleading,as the motion of the car is from X to Y,and then from Y to X in straight line motion,but not moves in a circle

 

[PeroK]

Sorry that I didn’t gives a clear explanation,actually I think the diagram is quite misleading,as the motion of the car is from X to Y,and then from Y to X in straight line motion,but not moves in a circle

Okay, it should be clear enough. What are you saying about $t_1$ and $t_2$?

 

[Tonyapplepan]

Okay, it should be clear enough. What are you saying about $t_1$ and $t_2$?

t1 means the time travelled for car from X to Y then Y to X when the belt moves in uniform motion.t2 means the time travelled for car from X to Y then Y to X when the conveyor belt remains stationary throughout

 

[PeroK]

t1 means the time travelled for car from X to Y then Y to X when the belt moves in uniform motion.t2 means the time travelled for car from X to Y then Y to X when the conveyor belt remains stationary throughout

I mean what's the question?

 

[Tonyapplepan]

I mean what's the question?

The question is :A toy car moves from X to Y and back to X at a constant speed. If the conveyor belt moves with a constant speed in the same direction throughout, the round trip of the toy car takes time t1. If the conveyor belt remains stationary throughout, the round trip of the toy car takes time t2. What is the conclusion drawn if you compare t1and t2?

 

[PeroK]

The question is :A toy car moves from X to Y and back to X at a constant speed. If the conveyor belt moves with a constant speed in the same direction throughout, the round trip of the toy car takes time t1. If the conveyor belt remains stationary throughout, the round trip of the toy car takes time t2. What is the conclusion drawn if you compare t1and t2?

And your conclusion is ...?

 

[kuruman]

If the conveyor belt moves with a constant speed in the same direction throughout, the round trip of the toy car takes time t1.

Question 1: How can there be a "round trip" when the direction of the speed is "the same" throughout?
Question 2: Is this constant speed relative to the belt or relative to fixed points X and Y?

 

[haruspex]

How can there be a "round trip" when the direction of the speed is "the same" throughout?

The conveyor belt moves always in the same direction, so presumably the car does not.

 

[erobz]

This is a math problem as far as I can tell (sorry if I'm being captain obvious). The car travels speed $v$ relative to the belt, and when it gets to $Y$ it immediately reverses direction without changing speed and travels back to $X$.

 

[Steve4Physics]

Hi @Tonyapplepan. Welcome to PF.

If you haven't yet read the Forum guidelines (https://www.physicsforums.com/threads/homework-help-guidelines-for-students-and-helpers.686781/), note that you are required to show evidence of your own thinking/work. We don't simply give the answer; you'll get guidance to help you work out the answer for yourself.

If you are not yet clear, the question is asking you to say which one is bigger, t₁ or t₂ - or if they are equal (or, less likely, if there is insufficient information to decide). And to explain your reasoning.

So you need to make some initial attempt and post your work here. Hint: If you call the speed of the belt 'u', the speed of the car relative to the belt 'v', and the distance between X and Y 'd', can you work out formulae for t₁ and t₂?