How many seconds does a vehicle traveling at 50 mph take to stop compared to a vehicle going at 40 mph over the same distance?

• A. A full minute
• B. Less than 10 seconds
• C. Approximately 25 seconds
• D. More than 30 seconds

Answer: (C)

To understand the stopping distance of a vehicle, we need to consider both the speed it is traveling and the process of coming to a complete stop. The stopping distance increases significantly with speed due to the physics of kinetic energy.

When comparing vehicles traveling at different speeds, the vehicle that is traveling faster has more kinetic energy, and thus requires a longer distance and time to stop.

At 50 mph, the vehicle tends to take longer to stop than one traveling at 40 mph. The stopping time is directly related to both the speed of the vehicle and the braking capability. The general formula for calculating stopping time involves factors such as the vehicle's speed and the braking distance, which can vary depending on road conditions and vehicle type.

By estimating the stopping times, we find that the time it takes a vehicle traveling at 50 mph to come to a stop is indeed closer to approximately 25 seconds, as it accounts for both the faster initial speed and the subsequent deceleration. This means that although a vehicle going at 40 mph will stop more quickly, the difference in stopping times due to the speed variation clearly supports the figure of around 25 seconds for the 50 mph vehicle when considering average conditions.

Thus, this understanding allows us to conclude that