Question

One speed skater starts across a frozen lake at an average speed of 8 m/s. Ten seconds later, a second speed skater starts from the same point and skates in the same direction at an average speed of 10 m/s. How many seconds after the second skater starts will the second skater overtake the first skater?

Answer 1

Answer:

40 s

Explanation:

After 10 seconds, the first skater would have a 8m/s * 10s = 80 m head start

Let t be the number of seconds after the second skater starts will the second skater overtake the first skater

The distance traveled by the first skater after t seconds is

$s_1 = v_1t = 8t$

Similarly the distance traveled by the 2nd skater after t seconds is

$s_2 = v_2t = 10t$

Since the 2nd skater catches up to the 1st one after 80 m behind, the distance traveled by the 2nd one must be 80m greater than the distance of the 1st skater

$s_2 = s_1 + 80$

We can substitute $s_1 = 8t, s_2 = 10t$

$10t = 8t + 80$

$2t = 80$

$t = 80 / 2 = 40 s$