Stopping Distance

Key Stage 4

Meaning

Stopping distance is the distance a vehicle travels between the driver noticing a hazard and coming to a stop.

About Stopping Distance

Stopping distance is made of two parts:

• Thinking Distance - The distance travelled by the vehicle between noticing a hazard and putting the foot on the brakes.
• Braking Distance - The distance travelled once the vehicle has applied the brakes.

Stopping Distance = Thinking Distance + Braking Distance

Stopping distance depends on:

• The speed of the vehicle - The greater the speed the larger the stopping distance.
• The reaction time of the driver - The longer the reaction time the longer the thinking distance and therefore stopping distance.
• The conditions of the road and tyres - The less friction between the road and tyres the longer the braking distance and therefore stopping distance.

References

AQA

Stopping distance, page 164, GCSE Physics, Hodder, AQA

Stopping distance, pages 141, 166-7, GCSE Physics; Student Book, Collins, AQA

Stopping distance, pages 242, GCSE Combined Science Trilogy 2, Hodder, AQA

Stopping distances, pages 148-149, 157, GCSE Physics; Third Edition, Oxford University Press, AQA

Stopping distances, pages 176-178, GCSE Combined Science Trilogy; Physics, CGP, AQA

Stopping distances, pages 208-210, 212, GCSE Physics; The Complete 9-1 Course for AQA, CGP, AQA

Stopping distances, pages 215, 216, GCSE Combined Science; The Revision Guide, CGP, AQA

Stopping distances, pages 67, 69, GCSE Physics; The Revision Guide, CGP, AQA

Edexcel

Stopping distances, page 155, GCSE Combined Science; The Revision Guide, CGP, Edexcel

Stopping distances, page 22, GCSE Physics; The Revision Guide, CGP, Edexcel

Stopping distances, pages 26-27, GCSE Physics, Pearson Edexcel

Stopping distances, pages 49-52, GCSE Physics, CGP, Edexcel

Stopping distances; estimating, page 51, GCSE Physics, CGP, Edexcel

Stopping distances; factors affecting, pages 49, 50, GCSE Physics, CGP, Edexcel

Stopping distances; typical values, page 52, GCSE Physics, CGP, Edexcel

OCR

Stopping distance, pages 220-221, Gateway GCSE Physics, Oxford, OCR

Stopping distances, page 210, Gateway GCSE Combined Science; The Revision Guide, CGP, OCR

Stopping distances, pages 90, 91, Gateway GCSE Physics; The Revision Guide, CGP, OCR