Question

Two trains face each other on adjacent tracks. They are initially at rest, and their front ends are 36 m apart. The train on the left accelerates rightward at 1.11 m/s2. The train on the right accelerates leftward at 1.17 m/s2. How far does the train on the left travel before the front ends of the trains pass?

Answer 1

left distance = (1/2)1.11 t^2
right distance = (1/2)1.17 t^2
right + left = 36
so

1.11 t^2 + 1.17 t^2 = 72
solve for t
then left distance = .5 (1.11 t^2