P2 - Forces and Braking

Question 1

What is the force acting forward on a car?

Answer 1

Driving force

Question 2

What is the force acting backwards on a car?

Answer 2

The resistive force - air resistance.

Question 3

What happens when a car brakes?

Answer 3

On braking, work is done by the friction force between the wheel and the brakes of the car which turns all the kinetic energy into heat energy which is then transferred to the surroundings.

Kinetic&raquo_space;»»»> Heat
Friction

Question 4

What is the thinking distance?

Answer 4

The distance vehicle travels during the driver’s reaction time.

Question 5

What is the braking distance?

Answer 5

The distance vehicle travels after the brakes have been applied to when the brakes stop the car.

Question 6

What is the stopping distance?

Answer 6

The thinking distance and the braking distance.

The distance travelled between the driver reacting and the car stopping.

Question 7

What factors can increase the thinking distance? (3)

Answer 7

The driver is tired.
The driver has taken alcohol.
The driver has had drugs.

Question 8

What factors can increase the braking distance? (3)

Answer 8

The type of road surface.
The weather conditions.
The condition of the car ie. the brakes.