A gun is fired at a distance of 1.7 km from Ram, and he hears the sound after 25 seconds. What is the speed of sound in metres per second based on this situation?

Introduction / Context:
This question is a straightforward application of the basic speed, distance, and time relationship. It uses a real life scenario involving the sound of a gunshot to estimate the speed of sound in air. Such questions help reinforce the formula speed = distance divided by time and the importance of unit conversion.

Given Data / Assumptions:
The horizontal distance between Ram and the gun is 1.7 km.
Ram hears the sound 25 seconds after the gun is fired.
The speed of sound is assumed to be constant over this distance.
We ignore any effects of wind, temperature variation, or obstacles.
The answer is required in metres per second (m/s).

Concept / Approach:
The basic formula used is speed = distance / time. However, distance is given in kilometres while time is in seconds. To get speed in metres per second, we must first convert kilometres to metres. One kilometre equals 1000 metres. After the conversion, we divide the distance in metres by the time in seconds to get the required speed. This is a routine but very important conversion step in physics and aptitude problems.

Step-by-Step Solution:
Step 1: Convert the given distance from kilometres to metres.Distance = 1.7 km = 1.7 * 1000 m.Distance = 1700 m.Step 2: Note the time taken for the sound to reach Ram.Time = 25 seconds.Step 3: Use the formula speed = distance / time.Speed of sound = 1700 / 25 m/s.Step 4: Simplify the division: 1700 / 25 = 68.Step 5: Therefore, the speed of sound based on this observation is 68 m/s.

Verification / Alternative check:
You can check by multiplication. If the speed is 68 m/s and time is 25 seconds, distance covered by sound = 68 * 25 = 1700 m, which matches the converted distance from 1.7 km. This confirms that the calculation is consistent with the given data. Although actual physical speed of sound in air is usually higher, aptitude questions expect you to trust and use the provided numbers only.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:
60 m/s, 62 m/s, and 64 m/s are all lower than the correct computed value and do not satisfy distance = speed * time for the given data.
72 m/s is greater than the correct result and would produce a larger distance than 1700 m for 25 seconds, which contradicts the problem statement.

Common Pitfalls:
Common mistakes include forgetting to convert kilometres to metres and directly dividing 1.7 by 25, which would give a speed in km per second and not in m/s. Another error is to use approximate physical values for speed of sound instead of strictly following the numbers given in the problem. Exam questions like this are designed to test consistent use of the formula with proper units.

Final Answer:
The speed of sound in this scenario is 68 m/s.