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Speed Distance Trains MCQs

High-yield multiple choice questions asked in previous years (UPSC, SSC CGL, JKSSB, RRB & State PSCs).

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High-Yield Concept Capsule & Key Facts

📌 Crucial arithmetic section in SSC CGL, RRB NTPC, RRB ALP, IBPS PO/Clerk, SBI PO, and State PSCs.

Fundamental Conversion & Basic Kinematic Relations

  • • Basic Formula: Speed = Distance / Time (Time = D / S, Distance = S × T).
  • • Unit Conversion: To convert km/h to m/s, multiply by 5/18 (since 1000m / 3600s = 5/18).
  • • Unit Conversion: To convert m/s to km/h, multiply by 18/5.
  • • Average Speed: When distances are equal: Avg Speed = 2xy / (x + y). When times are equal: Avg Speed = (x + y) / 2.

Relative Speed Principles for Trains & Moving Bodies

  • • Opposite Direction: Relative Speed = S1 + S2 (Speeds add up as separation narrows faster).
  • • Same Direction: Relative Speed = |S1 - S2| (Speeds subtract as faster body overtakes slower body).
  • • Crossing a Point Object (Pole, Standing Person, Tree): Distance covered = Length of Train (L1).
  • • Crossing a Linear Platform/Bridge/Tunnel: Distance covered = Length of Train (L1) + Length of Platform (L2).
  • • Two Trains Crossing Each Other: Distance covered = L1 + L2 in both same and opposite directions.
ScenarioDistance TraversedEffective SpeedTime Formula
Train crosses Pole/ManL_trainS_trainT = L_train / S_train
Train crosses Platform/BridgeL_train + L_platformS_trainT = (L_t + L_p) / S_t
Two Trains (Opposite Dir)L1 + L2S1 + S2T = (L1 + L2) / (S1 + S2)
Two Trains (Same Dir - Overtake)L1 + L2S1 - S2T = (L1 + L2) / (S1 - S2)
Train crosses Man moving in same dirL_trainS_train - S_manT = L_train / (S_t - S_m)
Equal distance round trip2DHarmonic MeanAvg Speed = 2xy / (x + y)
Showing 15 Practice Questions
Q1High-Yield Practice SetMedium

A train running at the speed of 60 km/hr crosses a telephone pole in 9 seconds. What is the length of the train?

Q2High-Yield Practice SetMedium

A train 240 m in length crosses a platform twice its length in 36 seconds. What is the speed of the train in km/hr?

Q3High-Yield Practice SetMedium

A person covers a certain distance by car at a speed of 40 km/hr and returns to the starting point at a speed of 60 km/hr. What is his average speed for the entire journey?

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Q4High-Yield Practice SetMedium

Two trains 140 m and 160 m long are running towards each other on parallel tracks at 60 km/hr and 48 km/hr respectively. In how many seconds will they clear each other from the moment they meet?

Q5High-Yield Practice SetMedium

Two trains of lengths 200 m and 150 m are running on parallel tracks in the same direction at 45 km/hr and 36 km/hr. How long will the faster train take to pass the slower train?

Q6High-Yield Practice SetMedium

A train passes a station platform in 36 seconds and a man standing on the platform in 20 seconds. If the speed of the train is 54 km/hr, what is the length of the platform?

Q7High-Yield Practice SetMedium

If a man walks at 14 km/hr instead of 10 km/hr, he would have walked 20 km more. The actual distance travelled by him at 10 km/hr is:

Q8High-Yield Practice SetMedium

Walking at 3/4th of his normal speed, a student reaches his school 20 minutes late. What is his usual time to reach the school?

Q9High-Yield Practice SetMedium

Excluding stoppages, the speed of a bus is 54 km/hr and including stoppages, it is 45 km/hr. For how many minutes does the bus stop per hour?

Q10High-Yield Practice SetMedium

A train 125 m long passes a man, running at 5 km/hr in the same direction in which the train is going, in 10 seconds. The speed of the train is:

Q11High-Yield Practice SetMedium

Two stations A and B are 110 km apart on a straight line. One train starts from A at 7 a.m. and travels towards B at 20 km/hr. Another train starts from B at 8 a.m. and travels towards A at a speed of 25 km/hr. At what time will they meet?

Q12High-Yield Practice SetMedium

A boat can travel with a speed of 13 km/hr in still water. If the speed of the stream is 4 km/hr, find the time taken by the boat to go 68 km downstream.

Q13High-Yield Practice SetMedium

A train running at 72 km/hr takes 20 seconds to completely pass another train running at 54 km/hr in the opposite direction. If the length of the first train is 220 m, find the length of the second train.

Q14High-Yield Practice SetMedium

A man sets out on a cycle from point A to point B. He covers 1/3rd of the journey at 10 km/hr, 1/3rd at 15 km/hr, and the remaining 1/3rd at 30 km/hr. Find his average speed for the whole journey.

Q15High-Yield Practice SetMedium

Two trains start at the same time from Aligarh and Delhi and proceed towards each other at 16 km/hr and 21 km/hr respectively. When they meet, it is found that one train has traveled 60 km more than the other. The distance between two stations is:

Frequently Asked Questions (Speed Distance Trains)

Q: Why do we multiply by 5/18 to convert km/hr into m/sec?

1 kilometer equals 1000 meters and 1 hour equals 3600 seconds. Dividing 1000 by 3600 gives 10/36 which simplifies directly to 5/18. Therefore, Speed in m/s = Speed in km/h × (5/18).

Q: What distance does a train travel when overtaking another moving train?

Regardless of whether two trains move in the opposite direction or the same direction, the total distance required for a complete crossing or overtaking is always the sum of their individual lengths (Length of Train 1 + Length of Train 2).

Q: What is the formula for average speed when travel times are unequal?

When time periods or distances are unequal, you must use the universal foundational formula: Average Speed = Total Distance Covered / Total Time Taken.

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