Two train tracks run parallel to each other, except for a short distance where they meet and become one track over a narrow bridge. One morning, a train speeds onto the bridge. Another train coming from the opposite direction, also speeds onto the bridge. Neither train can stop on the short bridge, yet there is no collision. How is this possible?

Question

Milton Schwartz

Physics

14 December, 20:18

Two train tracks run parallel to each other, except for a short distance where they meet and become one track over a narrow bridge. One morning, a train speeds onto the bridge. Another train coming from the opposite direction, also speeds onto the bridge. Neither train can stop on the short bridge, yet there is no collision. How is this possible?

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Answers (1)

Know the Answer?

Aiyana Alvarez · Answer 1

This situation is possible.

Explanation:

It is said in the problem that one morning two trains are speeding up from opposite directions onto the bridge. It may seem from this statement that the trains are arriving at the same time. But this should be a wrong assumption.

Because it is only said in the problem that the trains are passing the bridge on same morning. No explicit timing is given.

So it may so happen that both the trains pass the narrow bridge on the same morning but at two difeerent times, making no collision with each other.