Problem 2-101 - Linear Kinematics - Part 2 - (a)

A car \((c)\) with one headlight burned out is traveling at a constant speed of \(18 \;m/s\) and passes a stopped police car \((p)\). The car is pursued immediately by the police cruiser, which has a constant acceleration of magnitude \(2.2 \;m/s^2.\)

(a) How far does the police cruiser travel before catching the other car?
(b) At what time will this occur? (Hint: Graphing may help to visualize this problem.)

Correct!

graphs indicating where the police cruiser intercepts the card with one head light

The expression relating the car's displacement \((x_c)\) to the time \((t)\) is BEST represented by:
 
(A)   \(x_c = x_{0c} + v_{0c^t},\text{with}\; x_{0c} = 0\)

(B)   \(x_c = x_{0c} + v_{0c^t} + ½\; at^2,\text{with} \; x_{0c} = 0\)