Answer to Question #23283 in Mechanics | Relativity for Julio

Question

A caterpillar tries to climb straight up a wall two meters high, but for every 2 cm up it climbs, it slides down 1 cm. Eventually, it reaches the top. When it reaches the top, it does not pull itself over so it will slide down 1 cm.

What is the total distance traveled?

Answer 1

For every 1 cm in displacement,there are 3 cm of distance traveled involved. Thus, when the wall top is almost reached, when the displacement is 199 cm, the distance traveled is 597 cm. Then the caterpillar climbs up the last 1 cm, touches the top and slides down 1
cm back.

The total distance traveled after this is 599 cm.

Answer: 599 cm.