Answer: 20 seconds
Explanation:
Let the thief's speed be vT.
vT = 15m/s
Let the time it takes to catch the thief be T seconds.
Then the distance covered by the police car and the thief in the time T will be the same.
We know that the police vehicle's last speed is 20m/s.
20 = 0 + 2*t
here t is the time taken to reach 20m/s.
t = 10 seconds
Distance travelled by the thief by now(10s) = 150 m
Distance travelled by the police vehicle in 10 seconds = d
2*2*d = 20^2
d = 100m
Relative speed = 20m/s - 15m/s = 5m/s
Distance to cover = 50m
Therefore time from then = 10s
It takes a total of 10+10 = 20seconds to catch the thief.