Mechanics: 1-Dimensional Kinematics
1-D Kinematics: Audio Guided Solutions
Problem Set K17, Question 6:
A tortoise and a hare are having a 1000-meter race. The tortoise runs the race at a constant speed of 2.30 cm/s. The hare moves at an average speed of 1.50 m/s for 10.0 minutes and then decides to take a nap. After waking up from the nap, the hare recognizes that the tortoise is about to cross the finish line and immediately accelerates from rest with a constant acceleration of 0.500 m/s/s for the remaining distance of the race. If the tortoise wins by a hair (no pun intended), then what is the time in hours that the hare napped?
Audio Guided Solution
Habits of an Effective Problem Solver
An effective problem solver by habit approaches a physics problem in a manner that reflects a collection of disciplined habits. An effective problem-solver...
- ...reads the problem carefully and develops a mental picture of the physical situation. If needed, they sketch a simple diagram of the physical situation to help visualize it.
- ...identifies the known and unknown quantities in an organized manner, often times recording them on the diagram itself. They equate given values to the symbols used to represent the corresponding quantites (e.g., vo = 0 m/s; a = 4.2 m/s/s; vf = 22.9 m/s; d = ???.).
- ...plots a strategy for solving for the unknown quantity; the strategy will typically center around the use of physics equations and be heavily dependent upon an understanding of physics principles.
- ...identifies the appropriate formula(s) to use, often times writing them down. Where needed, they perform the needed conversion of quantities into the proper unit.
- ...performs substitutions and algebraic manipulations in order to solve for the unknown quantity.
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