Relative velocity

  • Turbo Tortoise
    problem

    Turbo tortoise

    Age
    11 to 14
    Challenge level
    filled star empty star empty star
    Harriet Hare and Turbo Tortoise want to cross the finish line together on their 12 mile race.... What time should Harriet set off?
  • Take a message soldier
    problem
    Favourite

    Take a message soldier

    Age
    14 to 18
    Challenge level
    filled star filled star empty star
    A messenger runs from the rear to the head of a marching column and back. When he gets back, the rear is where the head was when he set off. What is the ratio of his speed to that of the column?
  • In Constantly Passing
    problem

    In constantly passing

    Age
    14 to 16
    Challenge level
    filled star empty star empty star
    A car is travelling along a dual carriageway at constant speed. Every 3 minutes a bus passes going in the opposite direction, while every 6 minutes a bus passes the car travelling in the same direction. Buses leave the depot at regular intervals; they travel along the dual carriageway and back to the depot at a constant speed. At what interval do the buses leave the depot?
  • Escalator
    problem

    Escalator

    Age
    14 to 16
    Challenge level
    filled star filled star empty star
    At Holborn underground station there is a very long escalator. Two people are in a hurry and so climb the escalator as it is moving upwards, thus adding their speed to that of the moving steps. ... How many steps are there on the escalator?
  • Stonehenge
    problem

    Stonehenge

    Age
    16 to 18
    Challenge level
    filled star empty star empty star
    Explain why, when moving heavy objects on rollers, the object moves twice as fast as the rollers. Try a similar experiment yourself.