A train starts from rest and reaches a velocity of 36 km/hr in 3 minutes with uniform acceleration.
What is the distance covered by the train during this time?
- AOption (a)
750 m
- BOption (b)
900 m
- COption (c)
500 m
- DOption (d)
250 m
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Correct answer
900 m
Why this answer is correct
The correct answer is 900 m.
Key Points
- The train starts from rest, which means the initial velocity (u) is 0 m/s. When an object begins its motion from a stationary position, its starting speed is always considered zero in kinematic calculations.
- The final velocity (v) given is 36 km/hr. To perform calculations in SI units, this must be converted to meters per second (m/s). By multiplying 36 by the conversion factor 5/18, we get 10 m/s.
- The time (t) taken to reach this velocity is 3 minutes. In physics equations, time must be expressed in seconds. Therefore, 3 minutes is multiplied by 60, resulting in 180 seconds.
- Since the train moves with uniform acceleration (a), we can find the acceleration using the first equation of motion: v = u + at. Substituting the values, 10 = 0 + a(180), which gives a = 10/180 or 1/18 m/s².
- The distance (s) covered is calculated using the second equation of motion: s = ut + (1/2)at². Substituting the known values: s = (0)(180) + (1/2)(1/18)(180)(180). This simplifies to s = 0 + (1/2)(1/18)(32400), which equals 900 meters.
- Alternatively, distance can be found using average velocity multiplied by time for uniform acceleration: [(u + v) / 2] x t. Here, [(0 + 10) / 2] x 180 = 5 x 180 = 900 m. Hence, the correct answer is 900 m.
Additional Information
- Equations of Motion:
- These equations describe the behavior of a physical system in terms of its motion as a function of time. There are three primary equations for uniform acceleration: v = u + at, s = ut + 1/2 at², and v² = u² + 2as.
- These were derived based on the work of Sir Isaac Newton and describe linear motion. They are only applicable when acceleration remains constant throughout the duration of the motion.
- Unit Conversion Logic:
- Converting km/hr to m/s is a standard procedure in physics. Since 1 kilometer is 1000 meters and 1 hour is 3600 seconds, the ratio 1000/3600 simplifies to 5/18.
- This conversion is essential to maintain consistency with the International System of Units (SI), where distance is in meters and time is in seconds.
- Uniform Acceleration:
- Uniform acceleration occurs when the velocity of an object changes by an equal amount in every equal time interval.
- On a Velocity-Time (v-t) graph, uniform acceleration is represented by a straight line. The area under the line in a v-t graph represents the total distance covered by the object.
Important Points
- Scalar vs Vector: Distance is a scalar quantity, meaning it only has magnitude. However, in straight-line motion in a single direction starting from rest, the magnitude of distance and displacement (a vector) are identical.
- Significance of "Rest": In competitive exams, the phrase "starts from rest" is a crucial data point indicating that u = 0. Conversely, "comes to a stop" or "brakes are applied" usually indicates v = 0.
- Numerical Accuracy: Always ensure all units are converted to the MKS system (Meter-Kilogram-Second) before applying kinematic formulas to avoid common calculation errors. For this problem, failing to convert 3 minutes to 180 seconds would lead to an incorrect result.