4.5.6.3.3 Factors that Affect Braking Distance 1

Question 1

Braking distance:

Answer 1

• distance traveled under braking force
• the distance a vehicle travels in the time after the driver has applied brake until the vehicle comes to a stop

Question 2

Factors that might affect braking distance:

Answer 2

Decreases friction:
- condition of brakes
- condition of tyres - poorer the condition of the tyres the higher the braking distance as poor quality tyres reduces friction between tyres and road
- road conditions/surface - icy or wet conditions

Increases kinetic energy or car/More work needs to be done to stop the car/Increases momentum of the car:
- increases mass of a vehicle/passengers

A component of gravity opposes the braking force/Resultant braking force is reduced:
- road slopes downhill - gradient of the road

Question 3

What does increasing the speed of a vehicle by a factor of 2 do?

Answer 3

• increasing the speed of the vehicle by a factor of 2 increases its KE by a factor of 4
• this means the braking distance increases by a factor four because four times as much work must be done by the same braking force