Rugby Player Problem: Solve for Time to Tackle

[badsniper]

Homework Statement

two rugby players are running toward each other. They are 37 m apart. if one accelerates from rest at 0.5m/s² and the other was already moving at 3.1 m/s and maintains his speed,

a) How long before they tackle each other?


This question is annoying me so much right now, I found 2 archived solutions to the problem, but they don't explain in enough detail, so I'm just re-posting it so that I may know how to solve it.

 

[Andrew Mason]

Homework Statement

two rugby players are running toward each other. They are 37 m apart. if one accelerates from rest at 0.5m/s² and the other was already moving at 3.1 m/s and maintains his speed,

a) How long before they tackle each other?This question is annoying me so much right now, I found 2 archived solutions to the problem, but they don't explain in enough detail, so I'm just re-posting it so that I may know how to solve it.

Write out the equation for distance covered by each runner as a function of time. Then write out the equation for separation as a function of those distances ie: s = 37 - (d1(t) + d2(t)). What is the value of s when they collide? Work out t from that.

AM

 

[badsniper]

Write out the equation for distance covered by each runner as a function of time. Then write out the equation for separation as a function of those distances ie: s = 37 - (d1(t) + d2(t)). What is the value of s when they collide? Work out t from that.

AM

Sorry, but I don't understand what you mean by "Function of time", or function of distances, I was attempting to solve it using the linear kinematics equations.