The braking distance of a road train travelling at 15m/s is 70m. Assuming that the same braking force is applied at all speeds, show that the braking distance of a road train when travelling at 25m/s is about 190m.

Energy = force x distance and Energy = 0.5 x mass x velocity squared

Hence, force = (0.5 x mass x velocity squared) / distance --- (equation 1) This applies for both situation A and B, and given that force is stated to be the same in each case, and mass is the same, we can equate eqn 1 for each.

Hence, (0.5 x mass x velocity(A) squared) / distance(A) = (0.5 x mass x velocity(B) squared) / distance(B)

and so distance(B) = (velocity(B) squared x distance(A)) / (velocity(A) squared) = (25^2 x 70) / 15^2 = 194m

JJ
Answered by Jack J. Physics tutor

9832 Views

See similar Physics A Level tutors

Related Physics A Level answers

All answers ▸

What is the quark composition of a proton?


How does the photoelectric effect actually show that light is made up of particles?


An ice cube with a small iron ball in its centre is placed in a cup of water. 3.9 x 10-3kg of water in the cup is displaced and the volume of the ice cube is 4.0 x 10-6m3. Ice density: 1000 kg m-3 Iron density: 7800 kg m-3, what is the volume of the iron?


Two immobile point charges Q1 and Q2 of values +q and +3q respectively are some distance apart. Q3, with value +2q is placed between them and does not move. What is the ratio of the distance between Q3 and Q2 to the distance between Q1 and Q3?


We're here to help

contact us iconContact ustelephone icon+44 (0) 203 773 6020
Facebook logoInstagram logoLinkedIn logo

MyTutor is part of the IXL family of brands:

© 2025 by IXL Learning