When you learn to drive you will get to know a book called the highway code.
This is a book published by the government and it is a list of rules that you need to know when driving on a road. Since 1997, you have to pass a written test on it before you can get your driving licence.
It tells us that the minimum distance it take to stop a car from 70mph (31.1m/s) is 96m.
Task
Watch this video, make notes and then make a list of the things you need to know to calculate the distance it takes to stop a car.
This picture shows the key components of the braking system of a modern car (Alpha Romeo in this case). The picture shows a very large ventilated brake disc with large callipers (red bits) holding large brake pads. This is on a very wide sticky rubber tire with a good deep tread pattern. The tread pattern is important because it makes sure that the car has enough grip if the road surface is wet.
Of course, the greatest braking system in the world is only any good if it is maintained. If the tire is worn with little tread, or the brake pads and discs have worn thin, the braking distance of the car will be greatly increased. When a car is 3 years old and every year after that, it has to be tested to make sure it is safe for the road. This is called a Ministry of transport test or MOT for short. During the MOT the braking system of a car is tested and if it is not up to standard the car fails it's MOT. The system need to be fixed before it can pass an MOT. Without an pass on the MOT, the car cannot be driven on the road.
Task - Complete task 2 on companion sheet by dragging and dropping the statements to make the diamond 9. The most import factor should be at the top and the least important at the bottom.
Do you have the reflexes of an 18 year old in their prime
Play the game below. Click to start the car driving and then click again when the hand comes up to tell you to stop. How long did it take? How old does it say you are?
Complete task 3 on the companion sheets by filling in the table.
What is stopping distance? Watch the video and read through the infographics to find out