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Hypocrisy_Central's avatar

Is there a train collision, a near miss, or free passage?

Asked by Hypocrisy_Central (26879points) November 9th, 2013

Situation, you have a train traveling north to south at 40mph that is 276ft long and 500yrd away from the junction. Another train headed east to west is traveling at 60mph and is 330ft long and 585yrd away from the junction, will one train strike the other, if so where, would they just miss each other, or could they travel through the junction and not have any worries over a collision?

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6 Answers

janbb's avatar

Ugh – having flashbacks of high school Algebra! Make it stop!

janbb (63219points)“Great Answer” (2points) Flag as…
Seek's avatar

Either way, someone needs to adjust the schedule. That’s cutting shit way too close.

Seek (34808points)“Great Answer” (3points) Flag as…
PhiNotPi's avatar

Let 1 unit of time = 1 yard / ( 1 mile / hour) = 2.045 seconds

The NS train will arrive in 12.5 units. (500 yrds / 40 mph = 12.5)
It will leave in 592/40 = 14.8 units. (500 yrds + 276 ft = 592 yrds)

The EW train will arrive in 9.75 units and leave in 11.58333 units, following the same method

The EW train will arrive sooner, and the trains will not collide, but there will be mere seconds to spare.

PhiNotPi (12686points)“Great Answer” (3points) Flag as…
Buttonstc's avatar

This question makes my hair hurt.

Buttonstc (27605points)“Great Answer” (1points) Flag as…
zenvelo's avatar

Tracks at right angles to each other don’t cross in the same plane, one set goes above the other. No collision. A bit noisy in the neighborhood.

zenvelo (39546points)“Great Answer” (0points) Flag as…
Pooh54's avatar

sorry I failed algebra with a 42. don’t have a clue.

Pooh54 (1207points)“Great Answer” (0points) Flag as…

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