If body a and b are both within system can forces between them affect the acceleration of the system?

speed of light in vacuum is 300,000 km/s

speed of light in other mediums is given by the expression v = c/n, where c is the speed of light in vacuum and n is the refractive index of medium.

for the first medium v = 200,000 km/s

  so, refractive index of medium = 300000/200000 = 1.5

    1.5 refractive index is usually for glass. so first medium is glass.

for the second medium v = 250,00 km/s

so, refractive index of medium = 300000/250000 = 1.2

    1.2 refractive index is usually for water. so second medium is water.

for the third medium v = 0 km/s

so, refractive index of medium = 300000/0 = ∞

    ∞ refractive index is usually for opaque mediums. so third medium is opaque medium.

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