A train 100m long crosses a pole in 10 seconds. Find speed.

Calculating Train Speed: A Simple Guide

Imagine a sleek, high-speed train hurtling down the tracks. How fast is it actually going? We can figure this out using a simple math formula!

The Problem: Finding Train Speed

Let's say we have a 100-meter long train that crosses a pole in 10 seconds. Our goal is to calculate the train's speed. Seems simple, right?

Understanding the Key Concepts

What is Speed?

Speed tells us how quickly something moves. It's simply the distance traveled divided by the time it takes.

The Speed Formula

The formula we'll use is: Speed = Distance / Time

What We Know

We know the following:

• Distance: 100 meters (the length of the train)
• Time: 10 seconds

Step-by-Step Solution

Step 1: The Distance

Since the train crosses a pole (which is basically a point), the distance the train travels is equal to its own length – 100 meters.

Step 2: Applying the Formula

Now, let's plug our values into the formula:

Speed = 100 meters / 10 seconds

Step 3: Calculating the Speed

Performing the calculation, we get:

Speed = 10 meters/second

Checking Your Answer and Unit Conversion

Verification

Does our answer make sense? 10 meters per second is a reasonable speed for a train. It's about 36 kilometers per hour, which is a pretty standard speed for many trains.

Unit Conversion

To convert meters per second to kilometers per hour, we can use the following conversion factors: 1 kilometer = 1000 meters and 1 hour = 3600 seconds.

So, 10 m/s * (3600 s/1 hr) * (1 km/1000 m) = 36 km/hr

Conclusion

The train's speed is 10 meters per second or 36 kilometers per hour. Understanding this simple formula helps us calculate speed in various real-world situations – from cars to airplanes and even the speed of light!