Quote:
Originally Posted by amenbreakz  Hi!
Can any one explain how you calculate the meeting point of two objects traveling towards each other at constant velocities.
eg
Object A is moving at 348mph and B is moving at 168mph They are 1118miles apart. Where will they meet, calculating from point A? |
Velocity is a vector quantitity.
Suppose A is going east and B is going west. now subtract a velocity vector whose direction is from west to east from A and B and magnitude is 168mph.so the velocity of B will become 168-168=0mph and velocity of A will become
348-(-168)=516mph
now for us B is at rest(not actually its at rest) and A is approaching B at a speed 516mph. So time taken by A to reach B=1118/516. Since time taken by A to reach also mean time taken by A to reach meeting point.so distance of meeting point from point A=distance travelled by A at time 1118/516=348*1118/516 =754m
same can also be done by using concept of ratio but I think vector method is easiest.
But you may ask ratio method if you want