MOVEMENT AND CHANGE

Stopping Distances

Lesson Aims

Consolidate understanding of how to interpret speed-time graphs. Understand what makes up the stopping distance of a vehicle. Know the factors that affect stopping distances

HOMEWORK

Make sure your homework booklet is inside your exercise book. If you have not stuck it in your book write your name on it!

Speed Time Graphs

To show your understanding of this topic:

Answer question number 1 & 2 off page 131 of Physics text book It should take you about 13 minutes to do this including the time taken to draw a graph

Stopping distance

Stopping distances

Accidents on motorways often involve vehicles of great mass travelling at large speeds. The forces involved when these vehicles suddenly stop are enormous.

Stopping distances

Compare the following vehicles. A car travelling at 25 m/s An identical car travelling at 35 m /s A coach travelling at 20 m / s Which will be the hardest to stop? Which will need the largest force to stop?

Stopping safety
Speed Thinking distance 30 ft 50 ft 70 ft Braking distance 45 ft 125 ft 245 ft Overall stopping distance 75 ft 175 ft 315 ft

30 mph 50 mph 70 mph

Stopping safety
Thinking distance There is always a short time between our eyes seeing that something has to be done and our brains actually moving our muscles. This time is called the reaction time

For a healthy person this is usually about half a second (it is less for younger people and longer for older people). The thinking distance is how long a car will travel during a drivers reaction time. The faster a car is travelling, the greater the thinking distance.

Stopping distances

What factors do you think determine how long it takes a car to stop?

The mass of the vehicle The speed of the vehicle The drivers reaction time

Stopping distances

The greater the mass of a vehicle, the longer its stopping distance. The greater the speed of the vehicle, the longer its stopping distance. The longer the drivers reaction time, the longer its stopping distance

Question time!

Your teacher will now give you a sheet with some information and questions on. Stick this sheet in your exercise books and answer the questions. This task should be completed as part of your next homework.