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Question

A horse and a squirrel participate in a race over a 1.10 km long course. The horse travels at a speed of 17.0 m/s and the squirrel can do 2.50 m/s. The horse runs for 0.880 km and then stops to tease the slow-moving squirrel, which eventually passes by. The horse waits for a while after the squirrel passes and then runs toward the finish line. Both animals cross the finish line at the exact same instant. Assume both animals, when moving, move steadily at their respective speeds.

a) How far (in m) is the squirrel from the finish line when the horse resumes the race?

b)For how long in time (in s) was the horse stationary?

Answer 1

Draw and label a diagram!

The horse stops 0.22 km short of the finish line. (1.10 - 0.880

The squirrel completes the 0.22 km in 88 sec (0.22 km / 2.5 mps

The horse can complete the 0.22 km in 12.941 sec (0.22 km / 17.0 mps)

Therefore the horse waited 75.059 seconds while the squirrel passed.

Can you determine the remainder?

Answer 2

Well the squirrel takes 1100 / 2.5 = 440 s for the course

The horse takes 1100 / 17 = 64.7 s for the course

Assuming both start and finish at the same time, horse must be stationary for 440 - 64.7 = 375.3 s

The horse stops after 880 / 17 = 51.8 seconds and then is stationary for 375.3 s, so restarts after 51.8 + 375.3 = 427.1 s

440 - 427.1 = 12.9 s

12.9 x 2.5 = 32.25 m (this is the answer to a)