Stopping Distance
Physics: Edexcel IGCSE, topic 1.4.1
Stopping Distance
Stopping distance is the distance it takes a car to stop in an emergency (i.e. when the car is braking suddenly). Stopping distance = thinking distance + braking distance.
Thinking distance
- The time it takes for a driver to react to a situation is their reaction time.
- During this reaction time, the car carries on moving.
- The thinking distance is the distance travelled between when the driver realises they need to brake and when they apply the brakes.
Braking distance
- The distance the car travels between the driver applying the brakes and the car stopping.
Typical stopping distances
- For a car travelling at 20mph, a typical stopping distance is 12m.
- For a car travelling at 50mph, a typical stopping distance is 53m.
- For a car travelling at 70mph, a typical stopping distance is 96m.
Test yourself on Stopping Distance
Which of these contribute to the stopping distance of a vehicle?