Forces and braking

• What is Thinking Distance?

  • The distance the vehicle travels during the driver’s reaction time
  • Reaction times vary from person to person, typical values range from 0.2 s to 0.9 s
  • A driver’s reaction time can be affected by tiredness, drugs, alcohol and Distractions
• What is Braking Distance?

  • Distance the Vehicle travels under the braking force
• Factors Affecting Braking Distance

  • Condition of the vehicle's brakes or tyres
  • Wet or Icy Road Conditions
• How Speed affects Braking Distance

  • The greater the speed of a vehicle the greater the braking force needed to stop the vehicle in a certain distance.
  • The greater the braking force the greater the deceleration of the vehicle.
  • Large decelerations may lead to brakes overheating and/or loss of control
• Stopping Distance

  stopping distance = thinking distance + braking distance
• Conservation of Momentum

  • In a closed system, the total momentum before an event is equal to the total momentum after the event