解:(1)由$v = \frac{s}{t}$可得,小明通过的路程$s_1 = v_1(t_0 + t),$小明父亲通过的路程$s_2 = v_2t,$两者通过的路程相等,即$v_1(t_0 + t)=v_2t,$代入数据得$5km/h×(5×\frac{1}{60}h + t)=10km/h×t,$解得$t=\frac{1}{12}h = 5min;$
(2)由$v = \frac{s}{t}$可得,小明出发$5min$通过的路程$s = v_1t_0 = 5km/h×5×\frac{1}{60}h=\frac{5}{12}km;$小明和他父亲相向而行时的速度和$v = v_1 + v_2 = 5km/h + 10km/h = 15km/h;$
由$v = \frac{s}{t}$可得,小明和他父亲相向而行时相遇的时间$t'=\frac{s}{v}=\frac{\frac{5}{12}km}{15km/h}=\frac{1}{36}h;$小明父亲通过的路程$s_2' = v_2t' = 10km/h×\frac{1}{36}h=\frac{5}{18}km;$小明与父亲在途中相遇时离学校的距离$s'' = s_{总}-s_2' = 2km - \frac{5}{18}km\approx1.72km。$