<p>For those who have Resnick/Halliday 6th ed. this is problem 8P in chapter 2 on page 27
Two trains, each having a speed of 30km/h are headed at each other on
the same straight track. A bird that can fly 60km/h flies off the
front of one train when they are 60 km apart and heads directly for
the other train. ON reaching the other train it flies directly back to
the first train, and so forth. What is the total distance the bird
travels?</p>
<p>I know this has to do with relative speeds but i cant figure out the distance for where the train meets the bird the first time, because after the first time, you just do it until its 0…
thnx all…</p>
<p>um the answer the book gives is like “infinitely large number” I have the fifth edition and the question is odd numbered.</p>
<p>However, this is a common problem on math contests, and Since the two trains are 60 m apart, it takes and hour for them to collide (since both travel at 30 km/h). This implies that the bird has traveled for for an hour or 60 miles. On a contest, I’m sure this would be the answer.</p>
<p>Btw, this problem doesn’t deal with relative motions. I think this was in the chapter about simple 1-D kinematics. :-P</p>
<p>it does have to do with relative motions because the speed of the one train in relation to the other is 60 km/h not 30 km/h</p>