Beat the Bell Challenge: Can Suzette Make It to Class on Time?

Question:

It is now 10:29 a.m., but when the bell rings at 10:30 a.m., Suzette will be late for French class for the third time this week. She must get from one side of the school to the other by hurrying down three different hallways. She runs down the first hallway, a distance of 35.0 m, at a speed of 3.50 m/s. The second hallway is filled with students, and she covers its 48.0 m length at a speed of 1.20 m/s. The final hallway is empty, and Suzette sprints its 60.0 m length at a speed of 5.00 m/s. How long does it take Suzette to make it to class? Did Suzette beat the bell?

Answer:

62 seconds

Suzette does not beat the bell and arrives late to class. To determine the total time it takes for Suzette to get from one side of the school to the other, we need to calculate the time she spends in each hallway and add them up.

First, in the hallway that is 35.0 m long, Suzette runs at a speed of 3.50 m/s. So, the time taken in this hallway is 35.0 m / 3.50 m/s = 10 seconds.

Secondly, in the hallway that is 48.0 m long and crowded with students, Suzette's speed is reduced to 1.20 m/s. Therefore, the time taken in this hallway is 48.0 m / 1.20 m/s = 40 seconds.

Lastly, in the empty hallway that is 60.0 m long, Suzette sprints at a speed of 5.00 m/s. The time taken in this hallway is 60.0 m / 5.00 m/s = 12 seconds.

By adding up the time spent in each hallway: 10 seconds + 40 seconds + 12 seconds = 62 seconds. Suzette takes 62 seconds (or 1 minute 2 seconds) to reach her class, starting from 10:29 a.m. Therefore, she arrives late at 10:30 a.m. and 2 seconds.