In an historical movie, two knights on horseback start from rest 72.6 m apart and ride directly toward each other to do battle. Sir George's acceleration has a magnitude of 0.280 m/s2, while Sir Alfred's has a magnitude of 0.250 m/s2. Relative to Sir George's starting point, where do the knights collide?

Question

In an historical movie, two knights on horseback start from rest 72.6 m apart and ride directly toward each other to do battle. Sir George's acceleration has a magnitude of 0.280 m/s2, while Sir Alfred's has a magnitude of 0.250 m/s2. Relative to Sir George's starting point, where do the knights collide?

Answer 1

The space between the knights diminishes at a rate 0.530 m/s^2

Collision occurs when
(1/2)*0.530 t^2 = 72.6 m

t^2 = 274
t = 16.55 s

George will have moved
(1/2)*0.280*t^2 = 38.35 m
from his initial position at that time -- a bit more than half the initial separation.