In the daytona 500 auto race, a ford thunderbird and a mercedes benz are moving side by side down a straightaway at 78.5 m/s. the driver of the thunderbird realizes that she must make a pit stop, and she smoothly slows to a stop over a distance of 250 m. she spends 5.00 s in the pit and then accelerates out, reaching her previous speed of 78.5 m/s after a distance of 370 m. at this point how far has the thunderbird fallen behind the mercedes benz, which has continued at a constant speed?

FT is 1020.6 meters (1640.6 meters - 620 meters) far from MB

Explanation:

First you have to consider that the Ford Thunderbird (FT) follows a rectilinear motion with varying acceleration, while Mercedez Benz (MB) has a constant velocity (no acceleration). So if you finde the time spent by FT in each section, and the distance, then you will find the distance for MB.

1) Vf² = Vi² + 2ad, where Vf: final velocity, Vi: ionitial velocity, a: acceleration and d: distance.

For the first portion  (0 m/s)² = (78.5 m/s)² + 2a(250 m) ⇒

-(78.5 m/s)² / 2(250m) = a ⇒ a = -12.3 m/s².

Now, you can find the corresponding time for this section with the following formule: Vf = Vi + at ⇒ 0 m/s = 78.5 m/s + (-12.3 m/s²) t

⇒ t= (-78.5 m/s)/ (-12.3 m/s²) ⇒ t= 6.4 seconds.

2) Then FT spent 5 seconds in the pit.

3) The the FT accelerates until reach 78.5 m/s again in a distance of 370 m.

Vf² = Vi² + 2ad ⇒ (78.5 m/s)² = (0 m/s)² + 2a(370 m)

⇒ (78.5 m/s)²/ 2(370 m) = a ⇒ a = 8.3 m/s²

Then, Vf = Vi + at ⇒ 78.5 m/s = 0 m/2 + (8.3 m/s²) t

⇒ (78.5 m/s)/(8.3 m/s²) = t ⇒ t = 9.5 seconds.

4) Summarizing, the FT moves 620 meters (250 + 370 mts) in 20.9 seconds ( 6.4 s + 5 s + 9.5 s).

5) During this time, MB moves

Velocity = distance/ time ⇒ Velocity x time = Distance

⇒ Distance = (78.5 m/s) x  (20.9 seconds) ⇒ Distance = 1640.6 meters

6) Finally, the FT is 1020.6 meters (1640.6 meters - 620 meters) far from MB