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Question

A train 200 m long passes a platform 100 m long in 10 seconds. What is the speed of the train?

This question was previously asked in
CDS II 2021 General Knowledge Previous Year Paper (14-Nov-2021)
The correct answer is

30 m/s

Calculating Train Speed When Passing a Platform

Understanding how to calculate the speed of a train when it passes a stationary object like a platform or a bridge is a common type of question. The key concept here is determining the total distance the train needs to cover to completely pass the object.

When a train passes a platform, the train must travel a distance equal to its own length plus the length of the platform to fully clear the platform.

Let's break down the given information from the problem:

  • Length of the train = 200 m
  • Length of the platform = 100 m
  • Time taken to pass the platform = 10 seconds

To find the speed of the train, we first need to determine the total distance covered by the train during the 10 seconds it takes to pass the platform.

The total distance (D) is the sum of the train's length and the platform's length:

\(D = \text{Train Length} + \text{Platform Length}\)

\(D = 200 \, \text{m} + 100 \, \text{m}\)

\(D = 300 \, \text{m}\)

Now that we have the total distance covered and the time taken, we can use the basic formula for speed:

\(\text{Speed} = \frac{\text{Distance}}{\text{Time}}\)

Plugging in the values we have:

\(\text{Speed} = \frac{300 \, \text{m}}{10 \, \text{s}}\)

\(\text{Speed} = 30 \, \text{m/s}\)

Therefore, the speed of the train is 30 m/s.

This calculation shows that the train is moving at a speed of 30 meters per second to cover a combined distance of 300 meters (its length plus the platform's length) in 10 seconds.

Revision Table: Train Speed Concepts

Concept Definition/Formula Notes
Speed \(\text{Speed} = \frac{\text{Distance}}{\text{Time}}\) Rate of motion
Distance (Train Passing Point) Distance = Train Length Object with negligible length (e.g., pole, person)
Distance (Train Passing Object) Distance = Train Length + Object Length Object with considerable length (e.g., platform, bridge)

Additional Information: Related Speed, Distance, Time Concepts

The relationship between speed, distance, and time is fundamental in physics problems involving motion. The standard formula can be rearranged to find any of the three variables if the other two are known:

  • To find Distance: \( \text{Distance} = \text{Speed} \times \text{Time} \)
  • To find Time: \( \text{Time} = \frac{\text{Distance}}{\text{Speed}} \)

It's also important to ensure that all units are consistent before performing calculations. If speed is given in km/h, distance in meters, and time in seconds, you would need to convert units so they match (e.g., convert km/h to m/s or convert meters and seconds to kilometers and hours).

In this specific problem, the units were already consistent (meters and seconds), which simplified the calculation.

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Similar Questions

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Important Questions from Problem on Trains

  1. Eight railway stations A, B, C, D, E, F, G and H are connected either by two-way passages or one-way passages. One-way passages are from C to A, E to G, B to F, D to H, G to C, E to C and H to G. Two-way passages are between A and E, G and B, F and D, and E and D.

    If the route between G and C is closed, which one of the following stations need not be passed through while travelling from H to C?

  2. A daily train is to be introduced between station A and station B starting from each end at 6 AM and the journey is to be completed in 42 hours. What is the number of trains needed in order to maintain the Shuttle Service?

  3. A train with a uniform speed passes a 122 meters long platform in 17 seconds and a 210 meters long bridge in 25 seconds. The speed of the train is:

  4. How long does a train 153 meters long running at the rate of 90 kmph take to cross a bridge 622 meters in length?

  5. A train passes a 360 metre long platform in 40 seconds and a man standing on the platform in 16 seconds. The speed of the train is:

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