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sgm1996
Oct 1, 2012, 05:44 PM
One swimmer in a relay race has a 0.50 s
Lead and is swimming at a constant speed of
4.26 m/s. The swimmer has 59.7 m to swim
Before reaching the end of the pool. A second
Swimmer moves in the same direction as the
Leader.
What constant speed must the second
Swimmer have in order to catch up to the
Leader at the end of the pool?
Answer in units of m/s

Abhimanyu Pudi
Oct 2, 2012, 12:36 AM
Since the second swimmer is behind the leader by 0.5 s, this says that he should reach the end point in 13.51 s as it takes 14.01 s (59.7 / 4.26) for the leader to do the same.

It is given that they are moving with constant velocity (remains same throughout the race), velocity of the second swimmer can be calculated as

velocity = distance traveled / time taken to travel that distance
= 59.7 / 13.51 = 4.42 m/s