Question

A tortoise and hare start from rest and have a race. As the race begins, both accelerate forward. The hare accelerates uniformly at a rate of 0.9 m/s^2 for 4.7 seconds. It then continues at a constant speed for 11.7 seconds, before getting tired and slowing down with constant acceleration coming to rest 72 meters from where it started. The tortoise accelerates uniformly for the entire distance, finally catching the hare just as the hare comes to a stop. What is the acceleration of the hare once it begins to slow down? What is the acceleration of the tortoise?

Answer 1

Answer:

The acceleration of the hare once it begins to slow down is -0.68 m/s²

The acceleration of the tortoise is 0.28 m/s²

Explanation:

The equations that describe the position and velocity of the hare and the tortoise are the following:

x = x0 + v0 · t + 1/2 · a · t²

v = v0 + a · t

Where:

x = position at time t

x0 = initial position

v0 = initial velocity

t = time

a = acceleration

v = velocity at time t

To find the acceleration of the hare once it begins to slow down, we have to find how much time the hare traveled during the deceleration and what was its initial speed.

First, the hare moves with constant acceleration for 4.7 s. Then, its velocity at  t = 4.7 s will be:

v = v0 + a · t    (v0 = 0 because the hare starts form rest)

v = a · t = 0.9 m/s² · 4.7 s = 4.2 m/s

The distance traveled by the hare while accelerating can be calculated using the equation of the position:

x = x0 + v0 · t + 1/2 · a · t²      (x0 = 0 and v0 = 0)

x = 1/2 · a · t² = 1/2 · 0.9 m/s² · (4.7)² = 9.9 m

Then, the hare runs at a constant speed of 4.2 m/s for 11.7 s. The distance traveled at constant speed will be:

x =  v · t

x = 4.2 m/s · 11.7 s = 49.1 m

Then, the distance traveled by the hare while slowing down was:

Distance traveled while slowing down = 72 m - 49.1 m - 9.9 m = 13 m

Let´s find how much time it took the hare to come to stop, so we can calculate the acceleration. We know that when the position is 13 m, the velocity is 0.

v = v0 + a · t

0 = 4.2 m/s + a · t

-4.2 m/s / t = a

Replacing in the equation of the position:

x = v0 · t + 1/2 · a · t²      (considering x0 as the point at which the hare started to slow down)

13 m = 4.2 m/s · t - 1/2 · 4.2 m/s / t · t²

13 m = 4.2 m/s · t - 2.1 m/s · t

13 m = 2.1 m/s · t

t = 13 m / 2.1 m/s

t = 6.2 s

Then, the acceleration of the hare while slowing down will be:

-v0/t = a

-4.2 m/s / 6.2 s = a

a = -0.68 m/s²

The acceleration of the hare once it begins to slow down is -0.68 m/s²

The hare traveled 72 m in (6.2 s + 11.7 s + 4.7 s) 22.6 s. The tortoise reaches the final position of the hare at the same time, so, using the equation of the position we can calculate the acceleration of the tortoise:

x = x0 + v0 · t + 1/2 · a · t²     (x0 = 0 and v0 = 0)

x = 1/2 · a · t²

72 m = 1/2 · a · (22.6 s)²

144 m / (22.6 s)² = a

a = 0.28 m/s²

The acceleration of the tortoise is 0.28 m/s²