Wierd question involving time and acceleration

  • Thread starter Thread starter amd123
  • Start date Start date
  • Tags Tags
    Acceleration Time
Click For Summary

Homework Help Overview

The problem involves a pedestrian jogging towards a boat, with specified velocities for both the jogger and the boat. The question seeks to determine how quickly the jogger approaches the boat, focusing on concepts of relative motion.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory, Conceptual clarification

Approaches and Questions Raised

  • The original poster attempts to convert the given speeds into meters per second and expresses uncertainty about how to proceed without additional information such as time or distance. Some participants suggest drawing a diagram and considering the concept of relative velocity, questioning what can be determined with the provided data.

Discussion Status

The discussion is exploring the concept of relative velocity and how it applies to the problem at hand. Some guidance has been offered regarding the interpretation of the velocities, but there is no explicit consensus on how to proceed further.

Contextual Notes

Participants note the absence of additional information such as distance or time, which may limit the analysis of the problem. The original poster has indicated that relative velocity has not been discussed in their coursework.

amd123
Messages
110
Reaction score
0

Homework Statement



A pedestrian is jogging on a path and sees a boat coming towards him. He's moving at 10 km/hr and the boat is moving at 20km/hr, how quickly does the jogger approach the boat?

Homework Equations



I'm guessing these:
Vf = vi + a * t
D = vi*t +1/2 a * t^2
Vf^2 = Vi^2 +2a * D


The Attempt at a Solution


well i converted the speeds to m/s
Jogger:2.77 m/s
Boat:5.55 m/s
other than that I've got no idea
I know we need a time and a distance and maybe acceleration?
 
Physics news on Phys.org
1. Draw a diagram with all the information you have from the problem. That should always be your first port of call.
2. Consider the information you're given (velocities) and the phrase in the question "how quickly does the jogger approach the boat?" With no other data than those two velocities, what quantity are you limited to being able to find? Do you know what 'relative velocity' means?
 
no we have not discussed relative velocity
 
look at the two velocities that are given to you. your only given velocities, no other information is given. not even distance or time.

relative velocity is when you compare an objects velocity to a relative object.

so for example, a poles velocity relative to the Earth is 0 m/s, whereas your velocity relative to the Earth could be 2 m/s. look at those two velocities, ask yourself "would they be coming at each other at a faster speed or slower?".
 

Similar threads

  • · Replies 7 ·
Replies
7
Views
1K
  • · Replies 17 ·
Replies
17
Views
3K
  • · Replies 5 ·
Replies
5
Views
3K
Replies
15
Views
3K
  • · Replies 6 ·
Replies
6
Views
2K
  • · Replies 5 ·
Replies
5
Views
2K
  • · Replies 1 ·
Replies
1
Views
2K
Replies
7
Views
3K
  • · Replies 6 ·
Replies
6
Views
2K
  • · Replies 1 ·
Replies
1
Views
2K