Quantitative Aptitude · Reasoning

Time and Clocks

562 Questions

Time and clocks problems evaluate quantitative aptitude by testing concepts on clock gains, losses, and relative speeds of hands. Questions also cover global time zones and standard time calculations. These logical reasoning topics frequently appear in SSC and banking exams.

Clock gain or lossTime zonesAngle between handsStandard time calculationPrecise time measurement

Time and Clocks Questions

Multiple choice

How many seconds are there in one hour?

  1. 60

  2. 24

  3. 360

  4. 1440

  5. 3600
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
E Correct answer
Explanation

This is the right answer.

As there are 60 seconds in one minute and one hour contains 60 minutes.So to find out the seconds in one hour we have to multiply 60 by 60. 60 x 60 = 3600 seconds.

Multiple choice

The average time interval between two high tides is

  1. 12 hours and 2<font size="2">5</font> minutes

  2. 6 hours and 12 minutes

  3. 24 hours and 52 minutes

  4. 50 minutes
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
A Correct answer
Explanation

The time between two high tides averages 12 hours and 25 minutes, not exactly 12 hours. This is because the Moon takes approximately 24 hours and 50 minutes (not 24 hours) to return to the same position relative to Earth's surface, so the tidal cycle is half of that period. Option B would be the time between high and low tide, not between two high tides.

Multiple choice

What is the time lapse between the sunset and sunrise?

  1. 24 hours

  2. 12 hours

  3. 1 month

  4. 6 hours

  5. 365 days
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
B Correct answer
Explanation

The period between sunset and noon is called morning, between noon and sunset is called afternoon. Generally, the time between sunset and sunrise is approximately 12 hours.

Multiple choice

One light blinks after every 8 seconds and the other after every 11 seconds.If they blink together now, after what time will they blink together again?

  1. 66 seconds

  2. 88 seconds

  3. 102 seconds

  4. None
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
B Correct answer
Explanation

This is an LCM problem. The lights blink together at times that are common multiples of 8 and 11. Since 8 and 11 are coprime (no common factors), their LCM is simply 8 × 11 = 88. So they will blink together again after 88 seconds. Option B is correct.

Multiple choice

A priest told a devotee, “The temple bell is rung at regular intervals of 45 minutes. The last bell was rung five minutes ago. The next bell is due to be rung at 7:45 a.m.” At what time did the priest give this information to the devotee?

  1. 7:40 a.m.

  2. 7:05 a.m.

  3. 7:00 a.m.

  4. 6:55 a.m.
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
B Correct answer
Explanation

Clearly, the last bell rung 45 minutes before 7:45 a.m, i.e. at 7:00 a.m. But it happened five minutes before the priest gave the information to the devotee. So, the information was given at 7:05 a.m.

Multiple choice

Reaching the place of meeting 20 minutes before 8.50 hr Sumit found himself thirty minutes earlier than the man who came 40 minutes late. What was the scheduled time of the meeting?

  1. 8.00

  2. 8.05

  3. 8.10

  4. 8.20
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
D Correct answer
Explanation

Sumit arrived at 8:30 (20 minutes before 8:50). He was 30 minutes earlier than the person who was 40 minutes late. If scheduled time = T, late person arrived at T + 40. Sumit arrived 30 minutes before that person, so Sumit arrived at T + 40 - 30 = T + 10. But Sumit arrived at 8:30, so T + 10 = 8:30, which means T = 8:20.

Multiple choice

A bus for Delhi leaves every thirty minutes from a bus stand. An enquiry clerk told a passenger that the bus had left 10 minutes back and the next bus will leave at 9:35 a.m. At what time did the enquiry clerk give this information to the passenger?

  1. 9:10 a.m.

  2. 8:55 a.m.

  3. 9:08 a.m.

  4. 9:15 a.m.
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
D Correct answer
Explanation

The next bus will leave at 9:35 a.m. A bus leaves every thirty minutes from the bus stand. This implies that the previous bus left at 9:05 a.m. An enquiry clerk told a passenger that the bus had left 10 minutes back, i.e. at 9:05 a.m. + 10 minutes = 9:15 a.m. Option (4) is correct.

Multiple choice

How many times do the hands of a clock coincide in a day?

  1. 20

  2. 12

  3. 22

  4. 24

  5. 11
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
C Correct answer
Explanation

The hands of a clock coincide once in every hour, but between 11 o'clock and 1 o'clock, they coincide only once. So, they coincide 11 times in 12 hours and thus, 11 x 2 = 22 times in 24 hours.