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SSC CPO Speed, Time & Distance Questions with Answers & Explanations

20 Speed, Time & Distance questions from the Quantitative Aptitude section of SSC CPO, each with the correct answer and a worked explanation. Try each question first, then tap Show answer to check. When you're ready, take the timed chapter-wise test to see your all-India rank.

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Question 1

A boat goes 48 km downstream in 3 hours and 36 km upstream in 3 hours. What is the speed of the stream?

  1. A14 km/h
  2. B12 km/h
  3. C4 km/h
  4. D2 km/h
Show answer
Answer: (D) 2 km/h Downstream speed = 16, upstream = 12; stream = (downstream − upstream)/2 = 2 km/h.
Question 2

A speed of 72 km/h is equal to

  1. A259.2 m/s
  2. B36 m/s
  3. C25 m/s
  4. D20 m/s
Show answer
Answer: (D) 20 m/s Multiply by 5/18: 72 × 5/18 = 20 m/s.
Question 3

A train 360 m long is running at 72 km/h. How long will it take to cross a pole?

  1. A18 seconds
  2. B16 seconds
  3. C17 seconds
  4. D14 seconds
Show answer
Answer: (A) 18 seconds Speed = 72 × 5/18 = 20 m/s; time = 360 ÷ 20 = 18 s.
Question 4

A person travels from P to Q at 60 km/h and returns at 90 km/h. What is the average speed for the whole journey?

  1. A74 km/h
  2. B72 km/h
  3. C69 km/h
  4. D75 km/h
Show answer
Answer: (B) 72 km/h For equal distances, average speed = 2ab/(a + b) = 72 km/h.
Question 5

A train 160 m long running at 90 km/h crosses a platform in 15 seconds. What is the length of the platform?

  1. A245 m
  2. B195 m
  3. C375 m
  4. D215 m
Show answer
Answer: (D) 215 m Distance covered = 25 × 15 = 375 m = train + platform, so platform = 215 m.
Question 6

A boat goes 66 km downstream in 3 hours and 54 km upstream in 3 hours. What is the speed of the stream?

  1. A4 km/h
  2. B20 km/h
  3. C2 km/h
  4. D3 km/h
Show answer
Answer: (C) 2 km/h Downstream speed = 22, upstream = 18; stream = (downstream − upstream)/2 = 2 km/h.
Question 7

A train 240 m long is running at 108 km/h. How long will it take to cross a pole?

  1. A8 seconds
  2. B4 seconds
  3. C11 seconds
  4. D10 seconds
Show answer
Answer: (A) 8 seconds Speed = 108 × 5/18 = 30 m/s; time = 240 ÷ 30 = 8 s.
Question 8

A person travels from P to Q at 20 km/h and returns at 30 km/h. What is the average speed for the whole journey?

  1. A25 km/h
  2. B29 km/h
  3. C21 km/h
  4. D24 km/h
Show answer
Answer: (D) 24 km/h For equal distances, average speed = 2ab/(a + b) = 24 km/h.
Question 9

A train 90 m long running at 72 km/h crosses a platform in 21 seconds. What is the length of the platform?

  1. A420 m
  2. B310 m
  3. C360 m
  4. D330 m
Show answer
Answer: (D) 330 m Distance covered = 20 × 21 = 420 m = train + platform, so platform = 330 m.
Question 10

A speed of 54 km/h is equal to

  1. A27 m/s
  2. B15 m/s
  3. C20 m/s
  4. D10 m/s
Show answer
Answer: (B) 15 m/s Multiply by 5/18: 54 × 5/18 = 15 m/s.

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Question 11

A boat goes 66 km downstream in 3 hours and 36 km upstream in 3 hours. What is the speed of the stream?

  1. A17 km/h
  2. B6 km/h
  3. C5 km/h
  4. D12 km/h
Show answer
Answer: (C) 5 km/h Downstream speed = 22, upstream = 12; stream = (downstream − upstream)/2 = 5 km/h.
Question 12

A train 280 m long is running at 72 km/h. How long will it take to cross a pole?

  1. A13 seconds
  2. B18 seconds
  3. C14 seconds
  4. D10 seconds
Show answer
Answer: (C) 14 seconds Speed = 72 × 5/18 = 20 m/s; time = 280 ÷ 20 = 14 s.
Question 13

A person travels from P to Q at 60 km/h and returns at 90 km/h. What is the average speed for the whole journey?

  1. A75 km/h
  2. B77 km/h
  3. C69 km/h
  4. D72 km/h
Show answer
Answer: (D) 72 km/h For equal distances, average speed = 2ab/(a + b) = 72 km/h.
Question 14

A train 120 m long running at 72 km/h crosses a platform in 39 seconds. What is the length of the platform?

  1. A690 m
  2. B780 m
  3. C640 m
  4. D660 m
Show answer
Answer: (D) 660 m Distance covered = 20 × 39 = 780 m = train + platform, so platform = 660 m.
Question 15

A speed of 90 km/h is equal to

  1. A20 m/s
  2. B324 m/s
  3. C45 m/s
  4. D25 m/s
Show answer
Answer: (D) 25 m/s Multiply by 5/18: 90 × 5/18 = 25 m/s.
Question 16

A boat goes 66 km downstream in 3 hours and 30 km upstream in 3 hours. What is the speed of the stream?

  1. A6 km/h
  2. B10 km/h
  3. C7 km/h
  4. D16 km/h
Show answer
Answer: (A) 6 km/h Downstream speed = 22, upstream = 10; stream = (downstream − upstream)/2 = 6 km/h.
Question 17

A train 400 m long is running at 90 km/h. How long will it take to cross a pole?

  1. A19 seconds
  2. B16 seconds
  3. C20 seconds
  4. D13 seconds
Show answer
Answer: (B) 16 seconds Speed = 90 × 5/18 = 25 m/s; time = 400 ÷ 25 = 16 s.
Question 18

A person travels from P to Q at 30 km/h and returns at 45 km/h. What is the average speed for the whole journey?

  1. A38 km/h
  2. B33 km/h
  3. C36 km/h
  4. D37.5 km/h
Show answer
Answer: (C) 36 km/h For equal distances, average speed = 2ab/(a + b) = 36 km/h.
Question 19

A train 160 m long running at 36 km/h crosses a platform in 37 seconds. What is the length of the platform?

  1. A190 m
  2. B370 m
  3. C210 m
  4. D240 m
Show answer
Answer: (C) 210 m Distance covered = 10 × 37 = 370 m = train + platform, so platform = 210 m.
Question 20

A speed of 162 km/h is equal to

  1. A45 m/s
  2. B583.2 m/s
  3. C50 m/s
  4. D81 m/s
Show answer
Answer: (A) 45 m/s Multiply by 5/18: 162 × 5/18 = 45 m/s.

These are RankerClub practice questions written in the SSC CPO pattern. They are not official SSC/IBPS/RRB papers.

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