Solving the Distance-Rate-Time Problem: Determining the Speeds of Two Airplanes, Lecture notes of Physics

Download Solving the Distance-Rate-Time Problem: Determining the Speeds of Two Airplanes and more Lecture notes Physics in PDF only on Docsity! Distance-Rate-Time Problem LSC-O 6/2010, Rev. 1/2011 1 of 2 Instructions Example 1. Carefully read the problem, note what numerical data is given, and what is being asked for. Two airplanes depart from an airport simultaneously, one flying 100 km/hr faster than the other. These planes travel in opposite directions, and after 1.5 hours they are 1275 km apart. Determine the speed of each plane. 2. Make a sketch, drawing, or picture of the described situation, and put all the given data from the problem on the drawing. Look for what the problem’s question is. In other words, what do they want to know? In this example, the problem asks you to find the speed of each plane. Let x = the speed of one plane, and y = the speed of the other. 3. Write down any numerical relationships that the problem gives you: Distance apart is 1275 km, time traveled is 1.5 hrs, and one plane is traveling 100 m/hr. faster than the other. Let plane X be the faster plane. 4. Look for other information (numbers, formulas, etc.) that you can use to relate all the items. Distance = Rate • Time is the formula you need in this case. Distance traveled = Rate (or Speed) times Time. 1275 km is the total of the distances (added together) that each plan travels. Travel time for each plane is the same, 1.5 hours; however, the planes’ speeds differ by 100 km/hr. Plane X is traveling X m/hr. Plane Y Is traveling Y m/hr. 1275 km in 1.5 hours Speed of Plane Y is 100 m/hr slower than X. Speed of Plane X is 100 m/hr faster than Y.