FYKOS Year 36 Series 4 Problem 3 — road closure · FYKOS 36 #36.4.3
Physics · optics
Problem
We all know it – road closures and endless standing at traffic lights. The light is green for 60s, but by the time everyone gets going, it is red again. Consider the 0.5s reaction time for a driver to get moving after the car in front of him has done so. By what percentage would the number of cars that pass through the closure increase if everyone in line started moving simultaneously? The first car stands at the traffic light level, the distance of the front bumpers of all cars is estimated to be 5m, and they all accelerate uniformly for 5s to a speed of 30km⋅h−1, with which they proceed further into the closure.