• Da Bald Eagul@feddit.nl
    link
    fedilink
    arrow-up
    7
    ·
    edit-2
    2 years ago

    They each move at a constant speed, but the distance between them doesn’t increase at a constant pace. See my other comment.

    Edit: I am dumb, and looked at the wrong number.

    • De_Narm@lemmy.world
      link
      fedilink
      arrow-up
      12
      ·
      edit-2
      2 years ago

      I’m trying to apply the most simple math possible and it seems to add up.

      After one second, their distance is √(5² + 1²) = ~5.1 ft

      After two seconds, their distance is √(10² + 2²) = ~10.2 ft

      After three seconds, it’s √(15² + 3²) = ~15.3 ft

      As speed is the rate of change of distance over time, you can see it’s a constant 5.1 ft/s. You’re free to point out any error, but I don’t think you need anything more than Pythagoras’ theorem.

      The question specifically asks for their seperation speed at 5s to ignore any initial change in their speed as they first need to accelerate, I’d assume.

      • Da Bald Eagul@feddit.nl
        link
        fedilink
        arrow-up
        7
        ·
        2 years ago

        Ah sorry, I’m tired and made a mistake. I quickly made a spreadsheet (because keeping track of numbers is hard), and I was looking at the wrong column in the sheet. My bad!