A 90 m long train begins uniform acceleration from rest. The front of the train has a speed of 21 m/s when it passes a railway worker who is standing 184 m from where the front of the train started. What will be the speed of the last car as it passes the worker? (See Fig. 2-36.)

2 answers

First calculate the acceleration of the front of the train. When its velocity is V after traveling a distance X from a standing start,

V^2 = 2 a X, so
a = V^2 /(2X) = 1.198 m/s^2

When the last car passes the worker, the first car will have traveled 184 + 90 = 274 m

Use again V^2 = 2 a X, with the new value of X = 274. (a remains the same). This new V is the velocity of both the first and the last car at that time.

V^2 = 2*1.198*274
V = 25.6 m/s
seriously bruh