A 0.300 kg block of wood rests on a horizontal frictionless surface and is attached to a spring (also horizontal) with a 26.0 N/m force constant that is at its equilibrium length. A 0.0600 kg wad of Play-Doh is thrown horizontally at the block with a speed of 2.80 m/s and sticks to it. Determine the amount by which the Play-Doh-block system compresses the spring.

when jerome paddle in flowing river towards east the net speed of jerome will increase

so the net speed of jerome will be given as

now the speed of paul will be same as it is given as he is running on the ground

so

so here we can say since the speed of jerome is more so he will win the race

now as we know the distance so the time difference is given as

so jerome will reach first and the time difference will be 203.55 s or 3.4 min