Question

A subway train is traveling at 22.2 m/s when it approaches a slower train 50m ahead traveling in the same direction at 6.94 m/s. If the faster train begins decelerating at 2.1 m/s 2 while the slower train continues at constant speed, how soon and at what relative speed will they collide?

Answer 1

Answer:

Time that they collide = 4.99s

Relative speed of the trains when they collide: The relative speed of The first train relative to the second, slower train at collision = 4.781 m/s

Explanation:

We will use the equations of motion to obtain the solution required

At time t = 0

speed of first train = 22.2 m/s

Initial space between the two trains = 50 m

Speed of second train = 6.94 m/s

For the first car, distance covered by the first train = y

y = distance covered between the beginning of the deceleration and the point where the the two trains hit one another.

u = initial velocity = 22.2 m/s

t = time taken for all this to happen

a = deceleration = - 2.1 m/s²

y = ut + (1/2)at²

y = 22.2t - 1.05t² (eqn 1)

For the second train,

At t = 0, y = 50 m

Let the new distance moved by the second train before collision = (y - 50)

u = initial velocity = 6.94 m/s

t = time taken = t

a = acceleration of the second train = 0 m/s² (constant velocity)

(y - 50) = ut + (1/2)at²

y - 50 = 6.94t

y = 6.94t + 50 (eqn 2)

substituting for y in eqn 2 using the expression obtained in eqn 1

y = 22.2t - 1.05t²

y = 6.94t + 50

22.2t - 1.05t² = 6.94t + 50

1.05t² - 15.26t + 50 = 0

Solving this quadratic equation

t = 4.99 s or 9.54 s

The position of the two trains are the same at those two times, but the first time is when they hit each other.

t = 4.99 s

At 4.99 s, the the velocity of the first train

v = u + at

v = 22.2 + (-2.1×4.99) = 11.721 m/s in the same direction as the second train.

Relative velocity at this point will be

= 11.721 - 6.94 = 4.781 m/s

Relative speed of the trains when they collide: The relative speed of The first train relative to the second, slower train at collision = 4.781 m/s

Hope this Helps!!!