Simple Velocity Problem: Solving for Time with Two Traveling Cars

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AI Thread Summary
To determine how long it takes for a car traveling at 60.0 km/h to catch up with a car traveling at 40.0 km/h when they are initially 125 m apart, the problem involves calculating the relative speed between the two vehicles. The correct approach is to consider the 40 km/h car as stationary and find the effective speed of the 60 km/h car in that frame, which is 20 km/h. Using this relative speed, the time to close the 125 m gap is calculated to be 22.5 seconds. The initial miscalculation of 6.25 seconds was due to incorrect handling of the distance and speed equations. The final answer confirms that 22.5 seconds is indeed the correct time for the 60 km/h car to catch up.
jk4

Homework Statement


How long does it take an automobile traveling 60.0 km/h to become even with a car that is traveling in another lane at 40.0 km/h if the cars' front bumpers are initially 125 m apart?

Homework Equations


v_{average} = \frac{\Delta x}{\Delta t}

The Attempt at a Solution


I'll just give an explanation because it seems like a pretty simple problem. I'm just getting a different answer than the book. Here goes:
I set the distance for the 60km/h car to d+125m since it has to travel the same distance as the 40km/h car plus the extra 125m that it had to catch up. Then I solved them for the variable (d) and set the 2 equations equal to each other, and then finished solving for time.
I ended up with: 6.25 seconds The book says it takes: 22.5 seconds
the books answer seems wrong to me... can anyone verify this, or let me know what I did wrong? Thank you.
 
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22.5 s is correct; I'm not sure what went wrong with your calculations.. they sound about right.
The easiest way to do this: imagine that the 40 km/h car is stationary (move to its reference frame), initially 125 m from the 60 km/h car.
What velocity is the 60 km/h car going in this new reference frame (hint: what's the difference in their velocities).
How long will it take to close the 125m distance at that speed?
 
I was getting the units wrong. Thanks for you help.
 
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