Question

Why are wide wooden sleepers kept below railway tracks?

• A. To decrease pressure on the ground.
• B. To increase the pressure on the ground.
• C. To make the railway tracks look good.
• D. To provide direction to the passing train.

Answer 1

The correct option is A To decrease pressure on the ground.

We know that pressure is inversely proportional to the area. That is if the surface area increases the pressure decreases and vice versa.
Hence, wide wooden or concrete sleepers are kept below the railway tracks so that there is less pressure of the train on the ground by increasing the area of contact and that the railway line may not sink into the ground.