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Two trains, each having a speed of \(30 \mathrm{~km} / \mathrm{h}\), are headed at each other on the same straight track. A bird that can fly \(60 \mathrm{~km} / \mathrm{h}\) flies off the front of one train when they are \(60 \mathrm{~km}\) apart and heads directly for the other train. On reaching the other train, the (crazy) bird flies directly back to the first train, and so forth. What is the total distance the bird travels before the trains collide?

Short Answer

Expert verified
The bird travels a total distance of 60 km before the trains collide.

Step by step solution

01

Understand the Problem

Two trains are moving towards each other on the same track, each at a speed of \(30 \text{ km/h}\). A bird starts flying from one train towards the other at a speed of \(60 \text{ km/h}\). We are to find the total distance the bird travels before the trains collide.
02

Calculate Time Until Collision

Both trains are moving towards each other, so their combined speed is \(30 + 30 = 60 \text{ km/h}\). Since the trains start \(60 \text{ km}\) apart, the time until they collide is given by \( \text{distance} \div \text{speed} = \frac{60}{60} = 1 \text{ hour}\).
03

Calculate Distance Traveled by the Bird

During the \(1\) hour it takes for the two trains to collide, the bird is flying at \(60 \text{ km/h}\). Therefore, the total distance the bird can travel in this time is \(60 \text{ km/h} \times 1 \text{ hour} = 60 \text{ km}\).

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Key Concepts

These are the key concepts you need to understand to accurately answer the question.

Uniform Motion
Uniform motion refers to movement at a constant speed in a straight line. In the world of physics, this concept simplifies the analysis of many problems. For instance, when an object maintains a constant velocity, the calculation of distances over time becomes straightforward.

The exercise with the trains and the bird is an excellent demonstration of uniform motion. The trains move towards each other on a straight track, each traveling at a uniform speed of \(30 \mathrm{~km/h}\). Similarly, the bird flies back and forth at a constant speed of \(60 \mathrm{~km/h}\). This uniformity makes predicting their positions at any given time trivial. By assuming constant speeds, we can easily calculate how long it will take for two objects to meet or how far an object can travel in a given time, without dealing with acceleration or deceleration complexities.

Understanding uniform motion is essential for finding solutions to problems involving objects in linear paths, as it allows us to apply simple arithmetic to determine distances and times.
Speed Calculation
Calculating speed is an essential skill when dealing with motion. Speed is defined as the distance traveled per unit of time, usually expressed in kilometers per hour (km/h) or meters per second (m/s). The formula for speed is:
  • \( \text{Speed} = \frac{\text{Distance}}{\text{Time}} \)

In the problem with the two trains and the bird, we see direct applications of this formula. Each train travels at a constant speed of \(30 \mathrm{~km/h}\), meaning they cover \(30 \mathrm{~km}\) every hour. The bird, traveling at \(60 \mathrm{~km/h}\), covers a greater distance in the same time interval.

Speed calculations allow us to understand how fast something is moving and predict its future position relative to a starting point. Such calculations are fundamental in transportation, navigation, and various scientific fields.
Distance-Time Relationship
The relationship between distance, time, and speed is a key concept in motion problems. It is represented by the formula:
  • \( \text{Distance} = \text{Speed} \times \text{Time} \)

This formula is crucial for solving the problem of the bird's travel. The trains, starting \(60 \mathrm{~km}\) apart and moving towards each other at a combined speed of \(60 \mathrm{~km/h}\), will collide after exactly \(1\) hour. During this time, the bird can continuously fly back and forth between them, traveling \(60 \mathrm{~km\)} in total.

The trick to solving such problems lies in recognizing how the distance-time relationship helps us break down movement into predictable outcomes. By understanding this relationship, one can easily solve for any of the variables, provided the other two are known. This makes it possible to solve complex relative motion problems by breaking them down into simple, understandable parts, as seen with the bird and trains.

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Most popular questions from this chapter

An automobile driver increases the speed at a constant rate from \(25 \mathrm{~km} / \mathrm{h}\) to \(55 \mathrm{~km} / \mathrm{h}\) in \(0.50\) min. A bicycle rider speeds up at a constant rate from rest to \(30 \mathrm{~km} / \mathrm{h}\) in \(0.50 \mathrm{~min}\). What are the magnitudes of (a) the driver's acceleration and (b) the rider's acceleration?

The position of a particle moving along the \(x\) axis is given in centimeters by \(x=9.75+1.50 t^{3}\), where \(t\) is in seconds. Calculate (a) the average velocity during the time interval \(t=2.00 \mathrm{~s}\) to \(t=3.00 \mathrm{~s}\); (b) the instantaneous velocity at \(t=2.00 \mathrm{~s} ;(\mathrm{c})\) the instantaneous velocity at \(t=3.00 \mathrm{~s} ;\) (d) the instantaneous velocity at \(t=2.50 \mathrm{~s}\); and (e) the instantaneous velocity when the particle is midway between its positions at \(t=2.00 \mathrm{~s}\) and \(t=3.00 \mathrm{~s}\). (f) Graph \(x\) versus \(t\) and indicate your answers graphically.

When startled, an armadillo will leap upward. Suppose it rises \(0.544 \mathrm{~m}\) in the first \(0.200 \mathrm{~s}\). (a) What is its initial speed as it leaves the ground? (b) What is its speed at the height of \(0.544 \mathrm{~m}\) ? (c) How much higher does it go?

A rock is dropped from a 100 -m-high cliff. How long does it take to fall (a) the first \(50 \mathrm{~m}\) and \((\mathrm{b})\) the second \(50 \mathrm{~m}\) ?

Catapulting mushrooms. Certain mushrooms launch their spores by a catapult mechanism. As water condenses from the air onto a spore that is attached to the mushroom, a drop grows on one side of the spore and a film grows on the other side. The spore is bent over by the drop's weight, but when the film reaches the drop, the drop's water suddenly spreads into the film and the spore springs upward so rapidly that it is slung off into the air. Typically, the spore reaches a speed of \(1.6\) \(\mathrm{m} / \mathrm{s}\) in a \(5.0 \mu \mathrm{m}\) launch; its speed is then reduced to zero in \(1.0 \mathrm{~mm}\) by the air. Using those data and assuming constant accelerations, find the acceleration in terms of \(g\) during (a) the launch and (b) the speed reduction.

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