Answer to Question #304255 in Mechanics | Relativity for Pretty

Question

Tom, the cat, and Jerry, the mouse enter a race over a course of 1.00 km long. Jerry sprints to its maximum speed of 3.34 m/s toward the finish line. Tom runs also at its maximum speed of 13.33 m/s toward the goal for 0.800 km and then stops to tease Jerry. How close to the goal can Tom let Jerry approach before resuming the race, which Jerry wins in the race? 

Answer 1

Explanations & Calculations

• After Tom stops the race temporarily, it would have to run for another 200 m to win the race once resumed.
• For this to happen it would take

$\qquad\qquad \begin{aligned} \small t&=\small \frac{200\,m}{13.33\,ms^{-1}}=15.00\,s \end{aligned}$

• The the maximum it could let Jerry get close is

$\qquad\qquad \begin{aligned} \small s&=\small ut\\ &=\small 3.3\,ms^{-1}\times15.00\,ms^{-1}\\ &=\small 49.50\,m \end{aligned}$

• Tom should keep Jerry reaching this close if it wants to win the race.