Assume the truck is going at v0 = 25 m/s, and you're 20 m behind the truck. You decide to accelerate at a = 1.0 m/s2 to pass the truck. To pass safely, you also want to pass the truck by 20 m before moving back to the lane.

Question

Part A ) Estimate the time interval needed to pass a semi-trailer truck on a highway.
Part B) If you are on a two-lane highway, how far away from you must an approaching car be in order for you to safely pass the truck without colliding with the oncoming traffic? Assume the speed of an approaching car is also 25 m/s.

Answer 1

so you want to move 40 meters (assuming the truck has no length) with a relative velocity of V with acceleration = 1.0m/s^2
distance=at
40=1t time = 40 seconds
so you are in the wrong lane for 40 seconds, and the relative speed of the oncoming cars is 50m/s

distance=v*t=50*40=2000 m

Answer 2

51.55