Speed and Velocity of a mosquito

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SUMMARY

The discussion focuses on calculating the point of impact between a mosquito and a person wearing sunglasses, given the mosquito's velocity of 2.4 km/h and the person's speed of 2.0 m/s. The mosquito is initially 35.0 m away, and the problem requires determining when and where the mosquito will hit the sunglasses as both move towards each other. Participants emphasized the importance of correctly applying the formula v=d/t and ensuring proper unit conversions for accurate results.

PREREQUISITES
  • Understanding of basic physics concepts, specifically relative velocity.
  • Familiarity with the formula v=d/t for calculating time, distance, and velocity.
  • Ability to convert units, particularly from kilometers per hour to meters per second.
  • Knowledge of vector addition for combining velocities in opposite directions.
NEXT STEPS
  • Learn about relative velocity in two-dimensional motion.
  • Study unit conversion techniques, especially for speed and distance.
  • Explore practical applications of the v=d/t equation in real-world scenarios.
  • Investigate vector addition and its implications in physics problems.
USEFUL FOR

Students studying physics, educators teaching motion concepts, and anyone interested in solving real-life problems involving relative motion and velocity calculations.

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Homework Statement


A mosquito flies toward you with a velocity of 2.4 km/h [E]. If a distance of 35.0 m separates you and the mosquito, at what point will the mosquito hit your sunglasses if you are traveling toward the mosquito with a speed of 2.0 m/s and the mosquito is traveling in a straight path?


Homework Equations


v=d/t


The Attempt at a Solution


I rearranged the formula to solve for time first, by dividing the distance by the addition of the vectors, but it didn't work.
 
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That approach should work. Did you use proper units? (I assume they want to know how far you've moved when the mosquito hits you.)
 

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