A minibus travels at a steady speed of 14 m/s along a rural road.
On one journey, 0.60 s passes between the driver noticing a temporary traffic signal and applying the brakes.
Calculate how far the minibus moves during this time.
On a later journey, the minibus travels over the same section of road at the same speed. The driver is more alert and takes 0.40 s to respond.
Explain the difference this makes to the stopping distance of the minibus.
Tests show that replacement tyres give the minibus more grip on a wet road than its worn tyres.
Explain why this permits a shorter safe separation from traffic ahead when the speed is unchanged.
126 exam-style questions on Edexcel GCSE Physics 2.5 Stopping and braking distances, covering 2.5.1 Stopping distance and reaction time, 2.5.2 Factors affecting stopping distance, 2.5.3 Dangers of large decelerations, and 2.5.4 Braking distance and initial speed. Each one has a worked solution and a mark scheme showing where the marks go.