Question 410641
one lap at the indianapolis speedway is 2.5 mi.
 in a race, a car stalls and then starts 30.0 s after a second car.
 the first car travels at 260 ft/s, and the second car travels at 240 ft/s.
 how long does it take the first car to overtake the second,
:
find how far Car 2 will be from Car 1, in 30 sec
30 * 240 = 7200 ft
:
Let t = time for Car 1 to overtake Car 2
:
Write a distance equation:
:
Car 1 dist = Car 2 dist + 7200 ft
260t = 240t + 7200
260t - 240t = 7200
20t = 7200
t = {{{7200/20}}}
t = 360 seconds (6 minutes) for car 1 to catch car 2
:
:
"and which car will be ahead after eight laps"
:
Find which lap they are on when car 1 overtakes car 2
:
Using car 2 distance. Car 2 travel time 360 + 30 = 390 sec
{{{(390*240)/(2.5*5280)}}} ~ 7th lap
We can confirm this with car 1's travel of 360 sec
{{{(360*260)/(2.5*5280)}}} ~ 7th lap also
:
Obviously, by the 8th lap Car 1 will have passed Car 2.