Stopping Distance

Question 1

How is the stopping distance of a car calculated?

Answer 1

Stopping distance =thinking distance + braking distance

Question 2

What is thinking distance?

Answer 2

the distance traveled during the driver’s reaction time

Question 3

What is braking distance ?

Answer 3

the distance covered under the braking force.

Question 4

What are some factors that affect thinking distance?

Answer 4

-speed and reaction time
-Higher speeds and longer reaction times result in longer thinking distances.

Question 5

What are some factors that affect breaking distance?

Answer 5

1)speed- for a given breaking force the faster your vehicle travels the longer it take to stop
2)weather or road surface conditions(if it is wet or icy or there are leaves and soil there is less grip so less friction between the tires and the road causing the vehicle to skid)
3) tire conditions (bald tires mean they cannot get rid of water in wet condition so they end up skidding on top)
4) brake quality- if brakes or worn or faulty they won’t be able to apply as much force which could be dangerous if you need to break hard

Question 6

How does friction contribute to stopping distance?

Answer 6

-It is essential for stopping a vehicle.
-When the brake pedal is pressed, brake pads press against the wheels, creating friction that transfers kinetic energy to thermal energy, ultimately slowing down the vehicle.

Question 7

A car travelling at a typical speed makes an emergency stop to avoid hitting a hazard 25 m ahead. Estimate the braking force needed to produce this deceleration.

Answer 7

Assume the deceleration is uniform, and
rearrange the uniform acceleration formula to find the declaration
Then use F=ma with m=1000kg