Motion with Constant Acceleration help

In summary, two cars are traveling on a straight highway with different speeds and accelerations. By setting their positions equal to each other, you can find the time at which they meet.
  • #1
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Homework Statement


Two cars drive on a straight highway. At time t = 0, car 1 passes mile marker 0 traveling due east with a speed of 18.0 m/s. At the same time, car 2 is 0.90 km east of mile marker 0 traveling at 30.0 m/s due west. Car 1 is speeding up with an acceleration of magnitude 0.40 m/s^2, and car 2 is slowing down with an acceleration of magnitude 0.80 m/s^2.



Homework Equations



I have used that data to create an X vs T equation
x1=(18.0 m/s)t+(0.2)t^2;\;x2=900 m -(30.0 m/s)t+(0.4)t^2



The Attempt at a Solution



I cannot show an attempt because i have searched in the book how to find where they meet and am unsuccessful. Can anyone tell me how to figure this out starting from the beggining? Thank You!
 
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  • #2
You seem to have been careful with the signs, and your equations look correct.

If you set x1 = x2, you will find the time instant at which they meet.
 

Related to Motion with Constant Acceleration help

1. What is motion with constant acceleration?

Motion with constant acceleration is when an object moves in a straight line with a consistent change in its velocity. This means that the object's speed is increasing or decreasing at a constant rate over time.

2. How is constant acceleration different from uniform motion?

Uniform motion is when an object moves with a constant speed in a straight line, while constant acceleration involves a change in an object's speed over time. In uniform motion, the object's velocity is constant, while in constant acceleration, the velocity is changing at a constant rate.

3. What is the equation for calculating motion with constant acceleration?

The equation for motion with constant acceleration is: final velocity = initial velocity + acceleration x time. This is also known as the equation of motion or kinematic equation.

4. How can we represent motion with constant acceleration graphically?

Motion with constant acceleration can be represented on a graph by a straight line with a positive or negative slope. The slope of the line represents the acceleration, and the x-axis represents time while the y-axis represents velocity.

5. What are some real-life examples of motion with constant acceleration?

Some real-life examples of motion with constant acceleration include objects falling due to gravity, a car accelerating from rest, a roller coaster moving up or down a hill, and a rocket launching into space. All of these examples involve an object experiencing a consistent change in velocity over time.

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