Motion Problems

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Motion Problems

• 9/08/08

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Formula

• D rt
• Every motion problem uses this formula!

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Steps to solve

• Circle information in problem
• Draw a picture if necessary!
• Define a variable
• Make a table
• Extract information
• Create equation
• Solve

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Example

• Two cars travel in opposite directions. One car
  averages 53 mph, and the other averages 59 mph.
  How long until the cars are 896 miles apart?
• Estimate an answer!

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Always answer this questions first!

• What is the question asking for?
• In this example, we are looking for the TIME that
  it takes for the two cars to be a certain
  distance away from each other.

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Example 2

• Two cars leave town at the same time in the same
  direction. One travels 35 mph and the other 40
  mph. In how many hours will they be 15 miles
  apart?

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Example 3

• Two planes start at the same place and travel in
  opposite directions. One at 395 mph and the
  other at 422 mph. How many hours will it take
  for the planes to be 2451 miles apart?