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RRB NTPC Speed Distance Time

Study Material — 1 PYQs (2018–2018) · Concept Notes · Shortcuts

RRB NTPC Speed Distance Time is a frequently tested subtopic — 1 previous year questions from 2018–2018 papers are included below with concept notes, key rules and shortcut tricks.

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2018–2018
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Previous Year Questions

RRB NTPC Speed Distance Time — Past Exam Questions

1 questions from actual RRB NTPC papers · all shown free · click option to reveal solution

Exam Q 12018Previous Year Pattern

A train travels 240 km from City A to City B at an average speed of 60 km/h. On the return journey, due to maintenance work, the train travels at 40 km/h. What is the average speed of the train for the entire journey (both ways)?

Concept Notes

Speed Distance Time— Rules & Concept

Core ConceptRead this first — the foundation of the topic

Speed, Distance, and Time form the foundation of motion problems in SSC CGL. This topic appears in 2-3 questions per exam and requires strong formula application skills. Core Concept: Speed measures how fast an object moves. Distance is the path covered. Time is the duration taken. These three are linked by a simple relationship that forms the base of all calculations.

Formula BlockMemorise — at least one formula appears in every paper
• Speed = Distance/Time (S = D/T)
• Distance = Speed × Time (D = S × T)
• Time = Distance/Speed (T = D/S)

Unit Conversions (Critical for SSC):

• km/hr to m/s: Multiply by 5/18

• m/s to km/hr: Multiply by 18/5

• 1 km/hr = 5/18 m/s
Exam PatternsWhat examiners ask — read before attempting PYQs
Shortcut 1 - Unit Conversion Trick

To convert km/hr to m/s, multiply by 5/18

Remember

36 km/hr = 10 m/s (this is a standard conversion to memorize)

Shortcut 2 - Distance Formula Rearrangement

When speed increases by x%, new time = Original time × 100/(100+x) When speed decreases by x%, new time = Original time × 100/(100-x)

Worked ExampleSolve this step-by-step before moving on
1
Step 1

Find speed in km/hr Speed = Distance/Time = 180/3 = 60 km/hr

2
Step 2

Convert to m/s Speed in m/s = 60 × 5/18 = 300/18 = 16.67 m/s Answer: 16.67 m/s Worked Example 2: A train running at 54 km/hr takes 20 seconds to cross a platform 200m long. Find the length of the train.

1
Step 1

Convert speed to m/s 54 km/hr = 54 × 5/18 = 15 m/s

2
Step 2

Find total distance covered Distance = Speed × Time = 15 × 20 = 300m

3
Step 3

Find train length Train length = Total distance - Platform length = 300 - 200 = 100m Answer: 100 meters Shortcut 3 - Relative Speed: • Same direction: Relative speed = |S1 - S2| • Opposite direction: Relative speed = S1 + S2 Most Common Trap (#1 Mistake): Students forget unit conversions! SSC deliberately mixes km/hr and m/s in the same question. Always check units in options and convert accordingly. Questions asking for train crossing times usually need m/s, while car journey problems often use km/hr. Another frequent error is confusing relative motion directions. When two objects move toward each other, add their speeds. When moving in the same direction, subtract speeds. Time-based problems often trick students with percentage changes in speed. Remember: if speed increases by 25%, time decreases by 20% (not 25%). Use the reciprocal relationship carefully. Practice identifying whether the question asks for train length, crossing time, or platform length. Each requires different approaches but uses the same core formula.

Key Points to Remember

  • Master formula: Speed = Distance/Time and its variations D = S × T and T = D/S
  • Unit conversion: km/hr to m/s multiply by 5/18, m/s to km/hr multiply by 18/5
  • Standard conversion: 36 km/hr = 10 m/s (memorize this)
  • Relative speed: same direction subtract speeds, opposite direction add speeds
  • Train problems: Total distance = Train length + Platform/Bridge length
  • Speed increase by x%: New time = Original time × 100/(100+x)
  • Speed decrease by x%: New time = Original time × 100/(100-x)
  • Always check units in answer options before solving
  • Average speed = Total distance/Total time (not average of individual speeds)
  • Time and speed are inversely proportional when distance is constant

Exam-Specific Tips

  • 1 km/hr equals exactly 5/18 m/s
  • 36 km/hr equals exactly 10 m/s
  • 72 km/hr equals exactly 20 m/s
  • Average speed formula: Total distance divided by total time
  • Relative speed when objects move toward each other: Sum of individual speeds
  • Relative speed when objects move in same direction: Difference of individual speeds
  • When speed increases by 20%, time decreases by 16.67%
  • When speed decreases by 20%, time increases by 25%
Practice MCQs

Speed Distance Time — Practice Questions

42graded MCQs · easy to hard · full solution & trap analysis · showing 20 of 42

All MCQs →
Practice 1easy

A train travels 240 km in 4 hours. What is its speed in km/h?

Practice 2easy

A bus travels 120 km in 3 hours. If it increases its speed by 25%, how much distance will it cover in 4 hours?

Practice 3easy

A cyclist travels at 15 km/h for the first 2 hours and then at 20 km/h for the next 3 hours. What is the average speed for the entire journey?

Practice 4easy

A car covers 150 km in 2.5 hours. How long will it take to cover 360 km at the same speed?

Practice 5easy

A bus travels 150 km in 2.5 hours. How long will it take to travel 300 km at the same speed?

Practice 6easy

A car travels at 72 km/h. How far will it travel in 5 hours?

Practice 7easy

Two runners start from the same point. Runner A runs at 8 m/s and Runner B runs at 6 m/s. After 10 seconds, what is the distance between them?

Practice 8easy

A man walks 4 km in 1 hour. At this rate, how many kilometres will he walk in 3.5 hours?

Practice 9easy

A bus travels 150 km at a speed of 50 km/h. How much time does it take?

Practice 10easy

Two runners start from the same point. Runner A runs at 8 m/s and Runner B runs at 6 m/s. After 10 seconds, what is the distance between them?

Practice 11easy

A man walks 12 km in 3 hours, then cycles 24 km in 2 hours. What is his average speed for the entire journey?

Practice 12easy

A train travels 240 km in 4 hours. What is its speed in km/h?

Practice 13easy

A car travels at 72 km/h. How far will it travel in 5 hours?

Practice 14medium

A boat travels 48 km downstream in 3 hours and 48 km upstream in 4 hours. What is the speed of the boat in still water (in km/h)?

Practice 15medium

A train travels 240 km in 4 hours at constant speed. If it needs to cover 360 km at the same speed, how much additional time (in hours) will it require beyond the first 4 hours?

Practice 16medium

A car travels from City A to City B at 50 km/h and returns from City B to City A at 75 km/h. If the distance between the two cities is 150 km, what is the average speed (in km/h) for the entire journey?

Practice 17medium

A cyclist covers a distance in 6 hours at 20 km/h. If he increases his speed by 25%, how much time (in hours) will he save on the same journey?

Practice 18medium

Two runners start simultaneously from the same point on a circular track of length 400 metres. Runner A runs at 8 m/s and Runner B runs at 6 m/s in the same direction. After how many seconds will Runner A lap Runner B (i.e., be exactly one full lap ahead)?

Practice 19medium

A boat travels 36 km downstream in 2 hours and 36 km upstream in 3 hours. What is the speed of the boat in still water?

Practice 20medium

A person walks from Point P to Point Q at 4 km/h and returns from Q to P at 6 km/h. The total time taken for the round trip is 5 hours. What is the distance between P and Q (in km)?

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60-Second Revision — Speed Distance Time

  • Formula: Speed = Distance/Time, Distance = Speed × Time, Time = Distance/Speed
  • Remember: 36 km/hr = 10 m/s for quick conversions
  • Unit conversion: km/hr to m/s multiply by 5/18
  • Trap: Always check if answer needs km/hr or m/s units
  • Relative speed: Add for opposite directions, subtract for same direction
  • Train crossing: Distance = Train length + Platform length
  • Speed-time relationship: Inversely proportional when distance is constant
Relative Speed→
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