force and braking

• Kinetic energy


  The energy of motion possessed by an object
• Kinetic energy equation


  Kinetic energy = 1/2 x mass x velocity^2
• The kinetic energy of a moving object depends on the velocity squared
• What happens when a car brakes

  1. Kinetic energy is converted to thermal energy in the brakes

  2. The car slows down as it loses kinetic energy
• Higher speed of a car


  Greater braking force needed to stop the car in a certain distance
• Larger braking force


  Causes the car to decelerate rapidly
• Larger braking force


  Causes a larger amount of kinetic energy to be transferred to thermal energy in the brakes
• Overheating of brakes


  Can cause the driver to lose control of the vehicle
• Estimating forces involved in vehicle deceleration

  Mass x Acceleration = Force