Question

A train travels north at a speed of 60 m/s. A passenger walks toward the rear of the train 4 m/s. A person standing on a platform at the train station observes the motion of the passenger in the train. What is the apparent speed of the passenger with respect to the train station platform?

a. 56m/s.
b. 64m/s.
c. 68m/s.
d. 74m/s.

Answer 1

The apparent speed of the passenger walking toward the rear of a northbound train, as observed from a stationary train platform, is 56 m/s since the passenger's motion opposes the train's direction of travel.

Step-by-step explanation:

The apparent speed of the passenger with respect to the train station platform is determined by considering the speed of the train and the passenger's speed in the opposite direction. Since the train is travelling north at a speed of 60 m/s and the passenger is walking towards the rear at 4 m/s, we subtract the passenger's speed from the train's speed to find the speed relative to the train station platform.

The calculation is as follows:
Apparent speed of the passenger = Speed of the train - Speed of the passenger walking towards the rear = 60 m/s - 4 m/s = 56 m/s.

Therefore, the correct answer is (a) 56 m/s.