colliding trains

Fusion_power · 2003-08-30, 14:18

There is a train track completely around a planet at its equator. This track is exactly 25,000 km long. Two trains pull out of the station travelling in opposite directions on the track. The first train leaves at 30 kph and the second train leaves at 25 kph. Each train accelerates by 1 khp for each hour it travels and the acceleration is steady meaning that after 1/2 hour the train is travelling 1/2 kph faster than it was.

These two trains are explosive. For each kph of their final velocity they will blast a crater one more meter deep at the point of impact. For example, if the trains meet with one travelling at 82 kph and the other at 67 kph, the combined velocity will blow a crater 149 meters deep.

The task is to find out where on the globe they will meet, how fast will they be travelling at the time, and how long after departure until their catastrophic meeting. Where they meet should be expressed in Kilometers travelled, when in hours/minutes/seconds, and size of blast crater in meters.

Fusion the obfuscator

Wacky · 2003-08-30, 15:49

The trains meet at T=0:00:00 at the station and form a blast crater of 55 meters.

If you ignore that meeting and the fact that they would blow up at the station, their next meeting is within the next week on the opposite side of the planet.

(For a more accurate answer, please consult a middle school math student.)

NickGlover · 2003-08-30, 19:19

Quote:

Originally Posted by Wackerbarth

(For a more accurate answer, please consult a middle school math student.)

Provided the middle school student knows a bit of calculus.

tom11784 · 2003-08-30, 19:35

WARNING: Posting possible answer!

I find through integration that time will be ~132:59:15.13,
the crash will be located ~12167.53115km from the station (the faster train covers ~12832.46885km)
and the created blast has a radius of ~320.9750769m.

Wacky · 2003-08-30, 19:52

Quote:

Originally Posted by NickGlover

Quote:

Originally Posted by Wackerbarth

(For a more accurate answer, please consult a middle school math student.)

Provided the middle school student knows a bit of calculus.

Well, I solved similar problems in the 9th grade. At the time, calculus was not taught below the sophomore year in college.

You can derive x(t) = x0 + v0*t + 1/2 * a * t^2 without calculus.

NickGlover · 2003-08-30, 19:54

That answer is the same as mine, but in the future you should PM (private message) your answers to the person who posted the puzzle to avoid giving away the answer too soon.

Fusion_power · 2003-08-30, 20:50

Wackerbarth,

I have to agree that this one is basic. My daughter was solving similar equations in high school algebra 2 years ago. There is a place on this forum for just such questions though. What bothers me is that 9 out of 10 high school graduates could not solve this equation.

Fusion

Wacky · 2003-08-30, 22:35

I find no fault with the problem except that I would have preferred it if you had chosen a slightly different circumference so that the answer came out "even".

As for my answer, I was intentionally avoiding giving too many details in hopes that others would also go through the exercise before the answer was disclosed.

2003-08-30, 14:18	#1
Fusion_power Aug 2003 Snicker, AL 1110111111₂ Posts	colliding trains There is a train track completely around a planet at its equator. This track is exactly 25,000 km long. Two trains pull out of the station travelling in opposite directions on the track. The first train leaves at 30 kph and the second train leaves at 25 kph. Each train accelerates by 1 khp for each hour it travels and the acceleration is steady meaning that after 1/2 hour the train is travelling 1/2 kph faster than it was. These two trains are explosive. For each kph of their final velocity they will blast a crater one more meter deep at the point of impact. For example, if the trains meet with one travelling at 82 kph and the other at 67 kph, the combined velocity will blow a crater 149 meters deep. The task is to find out where on the globe they will meet, how fast will they be travelling at the time, and how long after departure until their catastrophic meeting. Where they meet should be expressed in Kilometers travelled, when in hours/minutes/seconds, and size of blast crater in meters. Fusion the obfuscator

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2003-08-30, 15:49	#2
Wacky Jun 2003 The Texas Hill Country 441₁₆ Posts	The trains meet at T=0:00:00 at the station and form a blast crater of 55 meters. If you ignore that meeting and the fact that they would blow up at the station, their next meeting is within the next week on the opposite side of the planet. (For a more accurate answer, please consult a middle school math student.)

2003-08-30, 19:35	#4
tom11784 Aug 2003 Upstate NY, USA 2·163 Posts	WARNING: Posting possible answer! I find through integration that time will be ~132:59:15.13, the crash will be located ~12167.53115km from the station (the faster train covers ~12832.46885km) and the created blast has a radius of ~320.9750769m.

2003-08-30, 19:54	#6
NickGlover Aug 2002 Richland, WA 2²×3×11 Posts	That answer is the same as mine, but in the future you should PM (private message) your answers to the person who posted the puzzle to avoid giving away the answer too soon.

2003-08-30, 20:50	#7
Fusion_power Aug 2003 Snicker, AL 3BF₁₆ Posts	Wackerbarth, I have to agree that this one is basic. My daughter was solving similar equations in high school algebra 2 years ago. There is a place on this forum for just such questions though. What bothers me is that 9 out of 10 high school graduates could not solve this equation. Fusion

2003-08-30, 22:35	#8
Wacky Jun 2003 The Texas Hill Country 3²·11² Posts	I find no fault with the problem except that I would have preferred it if you had chosen a slightly different circumference so that the answer came out "even". As for my answer, I was intentionally avoiding giving too many details in hopes that others would also go through the exercise before the answer was disclosed.