A train travelling at a speed of 60 km/hr crosses a platform in 20 sec

A train travelling at a speed of 60 km/hr crosses a platform in 20 seconds. The same train crosses a person who is walking at a speed of 6 km/hr in the same direction as that of the train in 12 seconds. What is the length of the train and that of the platform, respectively ?

[amp_mcq option1=”160 m and 153.33 m” option2=”170 m and 166.66 m” option3=”180 m and 153.33 m” option4=”180 m and 170 m” correct=”option3″]

This question was previously asked in
UPSC CAPF – 2024
The length of the train is 180 m and that of the platform is approximately 153.33 m.
Let the length of the train be $L_T$ (in meters) and the length of the platform be $L_P$ (in meters).
The speed of the train is given as 60 km/hr. Let’s convert this to meters per second (m/s).
Speed in m/s = Speed in km/hr $\times \frac{5}{18}$.
$V_T = 60 \times \frac{5}{18} = \frac{300}{18} = \frac{50}{3}$ m/s.

Case 1: Train crosses a platform in 20 seconds.
When a train crosses a platform, the total distance covered by the train is the sum of its own length and the length of the platform ($L_T + L_P$).
Distance = Speed $\times$ Time.
$L_T + L_P = V_T \times 20$.
$L_T + L_P = \frac{50}{3} \times 20 = \frac{1000}{3}$ meters. (Equation 1)

Case 2: Train crosses a person walking at 6 km/hr in the same direction in 12 seconds.
The speed of the person is 6 km/hr. Convert this to m/s.
$V_P = 6 \times \frac{5}{18} = \frac{30}{18} = \frac{5}{3}$ m/s.
When the train crosses a person moving in the same direction, we use the relative speed.
Relative speed = Speed of train – Speed of person (since they are in the same direction).
Relative speed $= V_T – V_P = \frac{50}{3} – \frac{5}{3} = \frac{45}{3} = 15$ m/s.
The distance covered by the train relative to the person is the length of the train ($L_T$).
Distance = Relative Speed $\times$ Time.
$L_T = 15 \times 12 = 180$ meters.

Now that we have the length of the train ($L_T = 180$ m), we can use Equation 1 to find the length of the platform ($L_P$).
$L_T + L_P = \frac{1000}{3}$
$180 + L_P = \frac{1000}{3}$
$L_P = \frac{1000}{3} – 180 = \frac{1000 – 180 \times 3}{3} = \frac{1000 – 540}{3} = \frac{460}{3}$ meters.
Convert $\frac{460}{3}$ to a decimal: $460 \div 3 \approx 153.33$.
So, $L_T = 180$ m and $L_P \approx 153.33$ m.
The question asks for the length of the train and that of the platform, respectively.

Key concepts used: conversion of speed units (km/hr to m/s), calculating distance when a train crosses an object (stationary or moving), and relative speed for objects moving in the same or opposite directions. When a train crosses a stationary object of negligible length (like a person or a pole), the distance covered is the length of the train. When it crosses an object of considerable length (like a platform or another train), the distance covered is the sum of the lengths. Relative speed is the difference of speeds for objects moving in the same direction and the sum of speeds for objects moving in opposite directions.