Conversion of Speed, Time and Distance
The conversion of speed, time and distance into various units is given below:
To convert a given data from km/hour to m/sec, we multiply by 5/18. As 1 km/hour = 5/18
m/sec.
To convert a given data m/sec to km/hour, we multiply by 18/5. As 1 m/sec = 18/5
km/hour = 3.6 km/hour.
In terms of formula, we can list it as:
x km/hr=x×5/18 m/sec
x m/sec =x×18/5 km/hr
Similarly, some other conversions are given below:
1 km/hr = 5/8 miles/hour
1 yard = 3 feet
1 kilometer= 1000 meters
1 mile= 1.609 kilometer
1 hour= 60 minutes= 3600 seconds
1 mile = 1760 yards
1 yard = 3 feet
1 mile = 5280 feet
Applications of Speed, Time and Distance
Some of the major applications of speed, time and distance are given below:
Average Speed: The average speed is determined by the formula = (Total distance
travelled)/(Total time taken)
Average speed=d1+d2+d3⋯d / nt1+t2+t3⋯tn
Sample 1 – When the distance travelled is constant and two speed is given then:
Average speed = 2xy/ x+y
where x and y are the two speeds at which the corresponding distance has been reached.
Sample 2 – When the time taken is constant average speed is calculated by the formula:
Average speed =(x+y)/ 2
where x and y are the two speeds at which we covered the distance for an identical time.
Example: An individual drives from one place to another at 40 km/hr and returns at 160
km/hr. If the complete time needed is 5 hours, then obtain the distance.
Solutions: Here the distance is fixed, so the time taken will be inversely proportional to
the speed. The ratio of speed is given as 40:160, i.e. 1:4.
Therefore the ratio of time taken will be 4:1.
Total time is practised = 5 hours; therefore the time taken while travelling is 4 hours and
returning is 1 hour.
Hence, distance = 40x 4 = 160 km.
If the first part of any given distance is covered at a rate of v1 in time t1 and the second
part of the distance is covered at a rate v2 in time t2 then the average speed is given by
the formula:
Average speed = (v1t1+v2t2)/ t1+t2
Relative Speed: As the name suggests the idea is about the relative speed between two
or more things. The basic concept of relative speed is that the speed gets combined in
the case of objects moving in the opposite direction to one another and the speed gets
subtracted for the case when objects are moving in an identical direction.
For example, if two passenger trains are moving in the opposite direction with a speed of
X km per hour and Y kilometre per hour respectively. Then their relative speed is given by
the formula:
Relative speed = X + Y
On the other hand, if the two trains are travelling in the same direction with the speed of
X km per hour and Y kilometre per hour respectively. Then their relative speed is given by
the formula:
Relative speed = X -Y
For the first case time taken by the train in passing each other is given by the formula:
Relative speed = X + Y
Time taken= L1+L2/X+Y
For the second case, the time taken by the trains in crossing each other is given by the
formula:
Relative speed = X -Y
Time taken= L1+L2/X−Y
Here L1, L2
are the lengths of the trains respectively.
Speed, Time and Distance Formulas
Some important speed, distance and time formulas are given below:
Types of Questions from Speed, Time and Distance
There are some specific types of questions from Speed, time and distance that usually
come in exams. Some of the important types of questions from speed, distance and time
are as follows.
(a) Problems related to Trains
Please note that, in the case of the train problems, the distance to be covered when
crossing an object is equal to, Distance to be covered = Length of train + Length of
object.
Remember that, in case the object under consideration is a pole or a person or a point,
we can consider them to be point objects with zero length. It means that we will not
consider the lengths of these objects. However, if the object under consideration is a
platform (non-point object), then its length will be added to the formula of the distance to
be covered.
(b) Boats and Streams
In such problems, boats travel either in the direction of the stream or in the opposite
direction of the stream. The direction of the boat along the stream is called downstream
and the direction of the boat against the stream is called upstream.
If the speed of a boat in still water is u km/hr and the speed of the stream is v km/hr,
then:
1) Speed downstream = (u + v) km/hr
2) Speed upstream = (u – v) km/hr
Tips and Tricks to Solve Questions based on Speed, Time and Distance
Tip 1: Relative speed is defined as the speed of a moving body with respect to another
body. The possible cases of relative motion are, same direction, when two bodies are
moving in the same direction, the relative speed is the difference between their speeds
and is always expressed as a positive value. On the other hand, the opposite direction is
when two bodies are moving in the opposite direction, the relative speed is the sum of
their speeds.
Tip 2: Average speed = Total Distance / Total Time
Tip 3: When train crossing a moving body,
When a train passes a moving man/point object, the distance travelled by train while
passing it will be equal to the length of the train and relative speed will be taken as
1) If both are moving in same direction then relative speed = Difference of both speeds
2) If both are moving in opposite direction then relative speed = Addition of both speeds
Tip # 4: Train Passing a long object or platform, when a train passes a platform or a long
object, the distance travelled by the train, while crossing that object will be equal to the
sum of the length of the train and length of that object.
Tip # 5: Train passing a man or point object, when a train passes a man/object, the
distance travelled by the train while passing that object, will be equal to the length of the
train.
Solved Examples of Speed, Time and Distance
Some of the solved questions regarding the topic for more practice are as follows:
Example 1: The speed of three cars are in the ratio 5 : 4 : 6. The ratio between the time
taken by them to travel the same distance is
Solution: Ratio of time taken = ⅕ : ¼ : ⅙ = 12 : 15 : 10
Example 2: A truck covers a distance of 1200 km in 40 hours. What is the average speed
of the truck?
Solution: Average speed = Total distance travelled/Total time taken
⇒ Average speed = 1200/40
∴ Average speed = 30 km/hr
Example 3: A man travelled 12 km at a speed of 4 km/h and further 10 km at a speed of
5 km/hr. What was his average speed?
Solution: Total time taken = Time taken at a speed of 4 km/h + Time taken at a speed of
5 km/ h
⇒ 12/4 + 10/5 = 5 hours [∵ Time = Distance/Speed] Average speed = Total distance/Total
time
⇒ (12 + 10) /5 = 22/5 = 4.4 km/h
Example 4: Rahul goes Delhi to Pune at a speed of 50 km/h and comes back at a speed
of 75 km/h. Find his average speed of the journey.
Solution: Distance is same both cases
⇒ Required average speed = (2 × 50 × 75)/(50 + 75) = 7500/125 = 60 km/hr
Example 5: Determine the length of train A if it crosses a pole at 60km/h in 30 sec.
Solution: Given, speed of the train = 60 km/h
⇒ Speed = 60 × 5/18 m/s = 50/3 m/s
Given, time taken by train A to cross the pole = 30 s
The distance covered in crossing the pole will be equal to the length of the train.
⇒ Distance = Speed × Time
⇒ Distance = 50/3 × 30 = 500 m
Example 6: A 150 m long train crosses a 270 m long platform in 15 sec. How much time
will it take to cross a platform of 186 m?
Solution: In crossing a 270 m long platform,
Total distance covered by train = 150 + 270 = 420 m
Speed of train = total distance covered/time taken = 420/15 = 28 m/sec In crossing a
186 m long platform,
Total distance covered by train = 150 + 186 = 336 m
∴ Time taken by train = distance covered/speed of train = 336/28 = 12 sec.
Example 7: Two trains are moving in the same direction at speeds of 43 km/h and 51
km/h respectively. The time taken by the faster train to cross a man sitting in the slower
train is 72 seconds. What is the length (in metres) of the faster train?
Solution: Given: The speed of 2 trains = 43 km/hr and 51 km/hr Relative velocity of both
trains = (51 – 43) km/hr = 8 km/hr Relative velocity in m/s = 8 × (5/18) m/s
⇒ Distance covered by the train in 72 sec = 8 × (5/18) × 72 = 160 Hence, the length of
faster train = 160 m
Example 8: How long will a train 100m long travelling at 72km/h take to overtake another
train 200m long travelling at 54km/h in the same direction?
Solution: Relative speed = 72 – 54 km/h (as both are travelling in the same direction)
= 18 km/hr = 18 × 10/36 m/s = 5 m/s
Also, distance covered by the train to overtake the train = 100 m + 200 m = 300 m
Hence,
Time taken = distance/speed = 300/5 = 60 sec
Example 9: A boat takes 40 minutes to travel 20 km downstream. If the speed of the
stream is 2.5 km/hr, how much more time will it take to return back?
Solution: Time taken downstream = 40 min = 40/60 = 2/3 hrs. Downstream speed = 20/
(2/3) = 30 km/hr.
As we know, speed of stream = 1/2 × (Downstream speed – Upstream speed)
⇒ Upstream speed = 30 – 2 × 2.5 = 30 – 5 = 25 km/hr.
Time taken to return back = 20/25 = 0.8 hrs. = 0.8 × 60 = 48 min.
∴ The boat will take = 48 – 40 = 8 min. more to return back.
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