How many seconds will a 500 metre long train take to cross a man walking with a speed of 3 km/hr in the direction of the moving train if the speed of the train is 63 km/hr?
Aptitude
Problems on Trains
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Answer
Correct Answer: 30
Explanation
Step 1: Understand what's given
- Length of the train = 500 meters
- Speed of the train = 63 km/h
- Speed of the man = 3 km/h
- The man is walking in the same direction as the train.
Step 2: Use relative speed
When two objects move in the same direction, we subtract their speeds:
Relative speed = 63 - 3 = 60 km/h Convert to m/s: 60 × (1000 / 3600) = 60 × 5/18 = 16.67 m/s
Step 3: Calculate time to cross
Time = Distance / Speed
Time = 500 / 16.67 ≈ 30 seconds
Answer: The train will take approximately 30 seconds to cross the man.
This problem is a classic example of relative motion, where:
- Same direction → subtract speeds
- Opposite direction → add speeds