Question

8. Find the thinking distance if you are going 40 mph and it takes you 2 secondsto respond.

Answer 1

The thinking distance is the distance travelled after you notice some danger and you apply the brakes. To get it we have to remember that the distance is given by:

`d=vt`

where v is the speed and t is the time. Before we can use this formula we need to convert the velocity from mph to mps, let's do this:

`40(mi)/(h)\cdot(1h)/(3600s)=(1)/(90)mps`

This means that we travel 1/90 mps; now that we have this we use the formula for the distance:

`d=((1)/(90))(2)=(1)/(45)=0.022`

Therefore, the thinking distance is 0.022 miles.