What is the minimum average speed needed for a car to qualify in a drag race?

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SUMMARY

To qualify for a drag race, a car must achieve an average speed of 254 km/hr over a 1600-meter track. If a car covers the first half (800 meters) at an average speed of 227.5 km/hr, it takes approximately 12.6 seconds to complete that segment. To determine the minimum average speed required for the second half of the track, the total time for the entire trip must not exceed 18.9 seconds, leading to a necessary average speed of 280 km/hr for the second half to meet the qualification criteria.

PREREQUISITES
  • Understanding of basic physics concepts related to speed and time.
  • Familiarity with unit conversions, specifically between km/hr and m/s.
  • Knowledge of average speed calculations.
  • Ability to solve linear equations.
NEXT STEPS
  • Learn about average speed calculations in physics.
  • Study unit conversion techniques between different speed measurements.
  • Explore the implications of speed on race qualifications and performance metrics.
  • Investigate drag racing rules and regulations regarding qualifying speeds.
USEFUL FOR

Students studying physics, automotive engineers, and anyone interested in understanding the mathematics behind drag racing qualifications.

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Homework Statement



to qualify for a race a car must achieve an average speed of 254 km/hr on a track 1600 meters long. if a car covers half the track with an average speed of 227.5 km/hr what minimum average speed must it have the second half to qualify?

Homework Equations


speed=distance/time


The Attempt at a Solution


my teacher told us to find the time it took for the first half and i did that by converting 227.5km/hr and getting 63.19m/s=800/t and got 12.6 seconds for the first half. he told us we could use this to solve the problem but I am really confused on how to do that.
 
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If the average speed must be 254 km/hr for the 1600 m trip, what must be the total time for the trip?
 
thank you! i got it right!
 

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