Calculate closing speed, time to contact, closest point of approach, and stopping distance from speed, heading, and surface inputs.
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Closing Distance Formula
The following formula is used to calculate the closing distance between two objects moving towards each other.
D_c = D_i - (v_1 + v_2) * t
Variables:
- D_c is the closing distance
- D_i is the initial distance
- v_1 is the speed of object 1
- v_2 is the speed of object 2
- t is the time
To calculate the closing distance, subtract the product of the sum of the speeds of both objects and the time from the initial distance.
What is Closing Distance?
Closing distance refers to the distance between two objects that are moving towards each other. This concept is often used in scenarios such as collision avoidance, pursuit, and interception. The closing distance decreases over time as the objects approach each other, and it can be calculated using the initial distance, the speeds of both objects, and the time elapsed.
How to Calculate Closing Distance?
The following steps outline how to calculate the closing distance.
- First, determine the initial distance (D_i) between the two objects.
- Next, determine the speed of object 1 (v_1).
- Next, determine the speed of object 2 (v_2).
- Next, determine the time (t) during which the objects are moving towards each other.
- Finally, calculate the closing distance using the formula D_c = D_i - (v_1 + v_2) * t.
- After inserting the values and calculating the result, check your answer with the calculator above.
Example Problem :
Use the following variables as an example problem to test your knowledge.
Initial Distance (D_i) = 100 meters
Speed of Object 1 (v_1) = 10 meters per second
Speed of Object 2 (v_2) = 15 meters per second
Time (t) = 2 seconds