Simulation · Physics · Class 11
Stopping distance: thinking, then braking
From the lesson Stopping distance and reaction time in Motion in a Straight Line. Change the values and watch what happens.
The idea behind it
NCERT § "Kinematic Equations for Uniformly Accelerated Motion"
- A vehicle moving at speed v₀ that brakes with constant retardation a stops in a distance d = v₀²/2a.
- Because d varies as v₀², doubling the initial speed makes the stopping distance four times larger for the same braking.
- Reaction time is the delay between seeing a signal and acting on it; during this time the vehicle keeps moving at its original speed, adding v₀ × (reaction time) to the stopping distance.
- A simple way to estimate reaction time is to catch a falling ruler: if it falls a distance d before being caught, the reaction time is √(2d/g).
- These are applications of the same constant-acceleration equations, not new laws.
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