Understanding Braking Distance: Weight & Slide to Stop Time

  • Thread starter Thread starter curiousguy
  • Start date Start date
  • Tags Tags
    Braking
AI Thread Summary
When braking, the weight of the car does not affect the "slide to stop" time because both inertia and deceleration forces are proportional to the car's mass. The inertia is represented by the formula ma, while the deceleration force is calculated as mgk, where g is gravity and k is the coefficient of friction. When these two forces are equated, the mass cancels out, leading to a constant deceleration rate. This means that the deceleration is solely determined by the coefficient of friction and gravity, not the car's weight. Understanding this principle clarifies why weight does not influence stopping time under the specified conditions.
curiousguy
Messages
5
Reaction score
0
I haven't taken physics in my college curriculum yet, so could someone help me understand why when slamming the brakes on my car, the weight of my car isn't a factor in the "slide to stop" time? Assuming I am not pulling weight behind me (trailor or something) and I have no collision with anything inbetween slamming on the brakes and stopping. Thanks!
 
Physics news on Phys.org
The reason is that the both the inertia and the deceleration force are proportional to the car's mass. The first is ma, and the second is weight times coefficient of friction k, or mgk. Equate the two and the mass cancels. Deceleration a is equal to gk. C'est tout.
 

Thread 'The Physics of unloading sand from a barge'

I think it's easist first to watch a short vidio clip I find these videos very relaxing to watch .. I got to thinking is this being done in the most efficient way? The sand has to be suspended in the water to move it to the outlet ... The faster the water , the more turbulance and the sand stays suspended, so it seems to me the rule of thumb is the hose be aimed towards the outlet at all times .. Many times the workers hit the sand directly which will greatly reduce the water...
View full post »

Thread 'Why can't Solar panels be hemispherical, or a curved strip type?'

comparing a flat solar panel of area 2π r² and a hemisphere of the same area, the hemispherical solar panel would only occupy the area π r² of while the flat panel would occupy an entire 2π r² of land. wouldn't the hemispherical version have the same area of panel exposed to the sun, occupy less land space and can therefore increase the number of panels one land can have fitted? this would increase the power output proportionally as well. when I searched it up I wasn't satisfied with...
View full post »

Similar threads

Measuring g forces when stopping a car
Replies
42
Views
4K
I Vehicle tire load vs stopping distance
Replies
8
Views
3K
Automotive Cancelling effects on a larger brake rotor
Replies
14
Views
2K
The Physics of Truck Braking: Why Shorter Distances When Sliding?
Replies
19
Views
2K
Why do trucks have bigger brakes?
2
Replies
71
Views
12K
How Can a Ship Safely Brake in Space Without Crushing Its Inhabitants?
2
Replies
90
Views
10K
Can you outperform an ABS brake system as a driver?
Replies
13
Views
16K
Automotive Determining the Brake Caliper Force for a Car
Replies
6
Views
8K
Help with question on motion: Avoiding a rear-end collision
Replies
6
Views
3K
Car - brake locking, stopping distance
Replies
24
Views
5K

Hot Threads

Recent Insights

Back
Top