Maths
Maths, Physics Revision
HOME
Physicss Physics A Level Physics Home Revision hut Stopping distances
Stopping distance is made up of thinking distance
 and braking distance
Both increase as the speed increases
 thinking distance increases in proportion to increasing
 speed
thinking distance
speed
A graph of thinking distance against
 speed would be a straight
 line
thinking distance is how far you travel in the reaction time Try the RoSPA simulator
click here
Braking distance increases as the square of the speed
braking distance The graph would look like this the braking distance has a greater increase as the speed increases 60 mph speed 20 mph
6 m
6m = 12 m (40ft) 3 car lengths 30 mph 9m 14m
=23m
 (75ft)
 6 car lengths
40 mph
12m
24m
= 36m
 (120ft)
 9car lengths
50 mph
15m
38m
=53m
 (175ft)
 13car lengths
18m 55m = 73m (240ft) 18car lengths 70 mph 21m 75m = 96m (315ft) 24 car lengths
Stopping distances
Thinking distance Braking distance
Never  confuse thinking
 Distance with
 Reaction time