At 10:17 a.m., you pass a police car at 55mph that is stopped on the freeway. You pass a second police car at 55mph at 10:53 a.m., which is located 39 miles from the first police car. If the speed limit is 70mph, can the police cite you for speeding?

Respuesta :

Regardless of the speed at which the two police cars were passed, the really important thing is the average speed between the two points. The distance traveled between these two points (x) is 39miles and the time between them is:

[tex]\Delta t = 10:53-10:17[/tex]

[tex]\Delta t = 36min[/tex]

[tex]\Delta t = 0.6hours[/tex]

The speed limit is 70mph

Average speed is the change at the distance in this time, then

[tex]\bar{v} = \frac{x}{\Delta t}[/tex]

[tex]\bar{v} = \frac{39}{0.6}[/tex]

[tex]\bar{v} = 65m/s[/tex]

That means the average speed is less than the speed limit. The police cannot do anything against the average speed that was done during the two points.

No, the police cannot cite you for speeding because your average speed (65 mph) is lesser than the speed limit (70 mph)

Average speed, distance & time

From the question, we are to determine if the police can cite you for speeding.

In order to determine if the police can cite you for speeding, we will calculate the average speed between the first police car and the second police car.

The speeds provided (55 mph) are the instantaneous speed.

Now, for the average speed

[tex]Average\ speed = \frac{Total\ distance}{Total \ time }[/tex]

From the given information

Total distance = 39 miles

Total time = 10:53 a.m - 10:17 a.m = 36 minutes = 0.6 hour

∴ Average speed = [tex]\frac{39}{0.6}[/tex]

Average speed = 65 mph

Thus, the Average speed, distance & time between the first police car and the second police car is 65 mph.

Since, the average speed is less than 70 mph, the police cannot cite you.

Hence, the police cannot cite you for speeding because your average speed (65 mph) is lesser than the speed limit (70 mph)

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