Question

A train is travelling towards the station on a straight track. It is a certain distance from the station when the engineer applies the brakes. Initially, the train is moving at 50 m/s and slows down at 2.5 m/s^2. If the train stops at the station, how far before the station did the engineer apply the brake?

Answer 1

Answer:

500 m

Explanation:

t = Time taken

u = Initial velocity = 50 m/s

v = Final velocity = 0

s = Displacement

a = Acceleration = -2.5 m/s²

Equation of motion

$v=u+at\\\Rightarrow 0=50-2.5\times t\\\Rightarrow \frac{-50}{-2.5}=t\\\Rightarrow t=20\ s$

Time taken by the train to stop is 20 seconds

$s=ut+\frac{1}{2}at^2\\\Rightarrow s=50\times 20+\frac{1}{2}\times -2.5\times 20^2\\\Rightarrow s=500\ m$

∴ The engineer applied the brakes 500 m from the station