Answer:
x = 240 m
Explanation:
This is a kinematics exercise
Let's fix our frame of reference on car A
x = x₀ₐ+ v₀ₐ t + ½ aₐ t²
the initial position of car a is zero
x = 0 + v₀ₐ t + ½ 0.8 t²
for car B
x = x_{ob} + v_{ob} t - ½ a_b t²
car B's starting position is 30 m
x = 30 + v_{ob} t - ½ 0.4 t²
at the point where they meet, the position of the two vehicles is the same
0 + v₀ₐ t + ½ 0.8 t² = 30 + v_{ob} t - ½ 0.4 t²
let's reduce the speeds to the SI system
v₀ₐ = 14.4 km / h (1000 m / 1 km) (1h / 3600s) = 4 m / s
v_{ob} = 23.4 km / h = 6.5 m / s
4 t + 0.4 t² = 30 + 6.5 t - 0.2 t²
0.2 t² - 2.5 t - 30 = 0
t² - 12.5 t - 150 = 0
we solve the quadratic equation
t = [tex]\frac{12.5 \pm \sqrt{12.5^2 + 4 \ 150} }{2}[/tex]
t = [tex]\frac{12.5 \ \pm 27.5}{2}[/tex]
t₁ = 20 s
t₂ = -7.5 s
time must be a positive quantity so the correct result is t = 20 s
let's look for the distance
x = 4 t + ½ 0.8 t²
x = 4 20 + ½ 0.8 20²
x = 240 m
