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Two trains travelling in the same direction at 40 km/h and 22 km/h cross each other completely in 1 minute. If the length of the first train is 125 m, what is the length of the second train?
175 m
185 m
150 m
125 m
175 m
Calculate the relative speed in km/h, convert it to m/s by multiplying by 5/18, then multiply by the total time in seconds to get the combined length. Subtract the first train's length to find the second train's length.
Speed of first train (v1) = 40 km/h, Speed of second train (v2) = 22 km/h (both in the same direction), Time taken to cross (t) = 1 minute = 1/60 hour, Length of the first train (l1) = 125 m.
Relative Speed=v1−v2,Total Distance=(l1+l2)=Relative Speed×t
Calculate the relative speed in km/h, convert it to m/s by multiplying by 5/18, then multiply by the total time in seconds to get the combined length. Subtract the first train's length to find the second train's length.
Forgetting to convert the time from minutes to seconds or hours, or using relative speed addition (+) instead of subtraction (-) when trains travel in the same direction.
Calculate Relative Speed
Since both trains are traveling in the same direction, their relative speed is the difference between their individual speeds: vrel=40−22=18 km/h.
vrel=40−22=18 km/h
Convert Speed to m/s
Convert the relative speed from km/h to m/s by multiplying by 185: 18×185=5 m/s.
18×185=5 m/s
Calculate Total Distance Covered
The total distance covered to cross each other completely is the sum of the lengths of both trains (l1+l2). Time taken is 1 minute=60 seconds. Therefore, Total Distance=5 m/s×60 s=300 m.
Total Distance=5×60=300 m
Find Length of Second Train
Given that the length of the first train (l1) is 125 m, we can find the second train's length (l2): 125+l2=300⟹l2=300−125=175 m.
l2=300−125=175 m
A is correct because the total distance covered by the relative speed in 1 minute is 300 m, and subtracting the first train's length of 125 m gives 175 m for the second train.
In relative motion problems involving trains, remember that whether trains move in the same or opposite directions, the total distance to cross completely is always the sum of their lengths (l1+l2).