COSMOS: Complete Online Solutions Manual Organization System

Chapter 11, Solution 43.

Constant acceleration ( a1 and a2 ) for horses 1 and 2.

Let x = 0 and t = 0 when the horses are at point A.
Then, 1 2
x = v0t + at
2
2 ( x − v0t )
Solving for a, a=
t2
Using x = 1200 ft and the initial velocities and elapsed times for each horse,

x − v1t1 2 ⎡⎣1200 − ( 20.4 )( 61.5 ) ⎤⎦

a1 = = = − 0.028872 ft/s 2
t12 ( 61.5) 2

x − v2t2 2 ⎡⎣1200 − ( 21)( 62.0 ) ⎤⎦

a2 = 2
= 2
= − 0.053070 ft/s 2
t2 ( 62.0 )
1
Calculating x1 − x2 , x1 − x2 = ( v1 − v2 ) t + ( a1 − a2 ) t 2
2
1
x1 − x2 = ( 20.4 − 21) t + ⎡( − 0.028872 ) − ( − 0.053070 ) ⎤⎦ t 2
2⎣
= − 0.6t + 0.012099 t 2

At point B, x1 − x2 = 0 − 0.6tB + 0.012099 t B2 = 0

0.6
(a) tB = = 49.59 s
0.012099
Calculating xB using data for either horse,
1
Horse 1: xB = ( 20.4 )( 49.59 ) + ( − 0.028872 )( 49.59 )2 xB = 976 ft W
2
1
Horse 2: xB = ( 21)( 49.59 ) + ( −0.05307 )( 49.59 )2 = 976 ft
2
When horse 1 crosses the finish line at t = 61.5 s,
2
(b) x1 − x2 = − ( 0.6 )( 61.5 ) + ( 0.012099 )( 61.5 ) Δx = 8.86 ft W

Vector Mechanics for Engineers: Statics and Dynamics, 8/e, Ferdinand P. Beer, E. Russell Johnston, Jr.,
Elliot R. Eisenberg, William E. Clausen, David Mazurek, Phillip J. Cornwell
© 2007 The McGraw-Hill Companies.