Solving a Simple Kinematics Problem: When Will Three Turtles Collide?

AI Thread Summary
Three turtles start at the vertices of an equilateral triangle and move towards each other with constant velocity. The problem asks when they will collide, and initial attempts to solve it have been unsuccessful. A suggested approach involves calculating the change in area of the triangle over time to determine when it reaches zero. By analyzing the relationship between the turtles' movements and the area, the time of collision can be derived. This method focuses on understanding the dynamics of their paths rather than just their velocities.
Leotav
Messages
4
Reaction score
0

Homework Statement


So the problem says that three turtles starts to move each from a vertice of a equilateral triangle with a constant velocity v as shown in the pic. They move towards each other ( the first one moves towards the second the second towars the third and so on ). It asks: When they are going to collide?

http://img337.imageshack.us/img337/1038/77228846fl6.jpg"

Homework Equations


none


The Attempt at a Solution


all my tries were unsuccessful that's why I am asking for help ;p

tips are welcome
thanks in advance
 
Last edited by a moderator:
Physics news on Phys.org
Never. I don't see why they should.
 
I forgot to mention that they're not going stay moving only on the triangle path, sorry.
 
Calculate the change of area A of the triangle as a function of time, and then solve for t when A=0.

If each has moved dx in time dt with speed v, what's dA/dt?
 

Thread 'Errors and significant figures'

I multiplied the values first without the error limit. Got 19.38. rounded it off to 2 significant figures since the given data has 2 significant figures. So = 19. For error I used the above formula. It comes out about 1.48. Now my question is. Should I write the answer as 19±1.5 (rounding 1.48 to 2 significant figures) OR should I write it as 19±1. So in short, should the error have same number of significant figures as the mean value or should it have the same number of decimal places as...
View full post »
Thread 'A cylinder connected to a hanging mass'

Thread 'A cylinder connected to a hanging mass'

Let's declare that for the cylinder, mass = M = 10 kg Radius = R = 4 m For the wall and the floor, Friction coeff = ##\mu## = 0.5 For the hanging mass, mass = m = 11 kg First, we divide the force according to their respective plane (x and y thing, correct me if I'm wrong) and according to which, cylinder or the hanging mass, they're working on. Force on the hanging mass $$mg - T = ma$$ Force(Cylinder) on y $$N_f + f_w - Mg = 0$$ Force(Cylinder) on x $$T + f_f - N_w = Ma$$ There's also...
View full post »

Similar threads

Boats in a triangle colliding after some time
Replies
2
Views
2K
Kinematics problem on Tetrahedron
2
Replies
50
Views
5K
Kinematics Football Problem -- 2 football players colliding....
Replies
25
Views
6K
When will the football players collide?
Replies
8
Views
5K
Two cars moving towards each other - bullets fired
Replies
6
Views
2K
A problem regarding Galilean relativity
Replies
9
Views
2K
Help Solve Kinematics Homework Problem: Two Train Cars
Replies
1
Views
4K
How can calculus be used to solve a snail kinematics problem?
Replies
2
Views
4K
Special Relativity and Kinematics Problem
Replies
6
Views
2K
Convergence Time of Moving Points on an Equilateral Triangle
Replies
11
Views
3K

Hot Threads

Recent Insights

Back
Top