Question #8e21a

1 Answer
Dec 7, 2016

43.10 m, rounded to two decimal places.

Explanation:

Constant speed of Car A =100km//h=100xx1000/3600=27.bar7ms^-1
Let us consider Car B first.
It enters the acceleration lane at a speed =25 km//hr = 6.9bar4 ms^-1.

It accelerates uniformly and enters the main traffic lane after traveling 70 m" in "5s.
Using the following kinematic equation to obtain acceleration a
s=ut+1/2at^2
70=6.9bar4xx5+1/2axx5^2
=>1/2axx5^2=70-6.9bar4xx5
Dividing both sides by 5 we get
5/2a=14-6.9bar4
=>a=2.8bar2ms^-2

To calculate the final speed at the time of entering the main traffic we use the following kinematic equation
v=u+at
v=6.9bar4+2.8bar2xx5
=>v=21.0bar5ms^-1

It then continues to accelerate at the same rate until it reaches a speed of 27.bar7ms^-1, which it then maintains.

Time taken to reach top speed is calculated from the kinematic equation
v=u+at
27.bar7 = 6.9bar4 xx 2.8bar2 t

=>t=(27.bar7 – 6.9bar4) / {2.8bar2 } = 7.382 s, rounded to three decimal places.
During this period of acceleration average speed

=(v+u)/2=(6.9bar4 + 27.bar 7 ) / 2 = 17.36bar1 ms^-1

Distance traveled in the main traffic lane=17.36bar1 xx 7.382 = 128.16 m, rounded to 2 decimal places

Now Car A

Distance traveled during this time period =27.bar7 xx 7.382 = 205.0bar5m

As the car A was 120m behinf car B when car B entered the main traffic lane. Therefore, distance of car A from car B
=120 + 128.16– 205.0bar5 m = 43.10 m, rounded to two decimal places