Two friends 10 km apart start running towards each other at speeds of

Two friends 10 km apart start running towards each other at speeds of 10 km/hr and 14 km/hr respectively. After how much time will they meet each other?

20 minutes
25 minutes
28 minutes
30 minutes
This question was previously asked in
UPSC CAPF – 2022
When two objects move towards each other, their relative speed is the sum of their individual speeds. The distance between the two friends is 10 km. Their speeds are 10 km/hr and 14 km/hr.
Relative speed = 10 km/hr + 14 km/hr = 24 km/hr.
The time taken to meet is the distance divided by the relative speed.
Time = Distance / Relative Speed = 10 km / 24 km/hr = 10/24 hours.
To convert hours to minutes, multiply by 60:
Time in minutes = (10/24) * 60 = (5/12) * 60 = 5 * 5 = 25 minutes.
– When objects move towards each other, use relative speed, which is the sum of their speeds.
– Use the formula Time = Distance / Speed.
– Ensure consistent units (convert hours to minutes if necessary).
This is a classic relative motion problem. The concept of relative speed simplifies calculating the time until they meet or the distance covered by one relative to the other. If they were moving away from each other, the relative speed would be the difference between their speeds.