A minibus is travelling at a constant speed of 16 m/s. The driver detects an obstruction 33.0 m ahead.
When the driver is not eating, the stopping distance is 29.2 m. The road, vehicle and speed are unchanged when the driver eats while driving.
| condition | reaction time in s |
|---|---|
| not eating | 0.45 |
| eating | 0.75 |
Calculate the stopping distance when the driver is eating. Use your answer to determine whether the minibus can stop before the obstruction, and give the margin.
Explain the effects of eating on the thinking distance and braking distance in this journey.
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.