Question

Suppose you are driving a car along a highway at a high speed. Why should you avoid slamming on your
brakes if you want to stop in the shortest distance? That is, why should you keep the wheels turning as
you brake?

Answer 1

Explanation:

• When we slam on the brakes in our automobile, the car comes to a halt while sliding, or we can say that the force that stops the car is the kinetic friction that develops between the ground and the car's tires.

• The static friction force is engaged in the deceleration of the car while the wheels are turning in the opposite direction of sliding.
• Because the coefficient of static friction between the car's tires and the road is greater than the coefficient of kinetic friction, the force of static friction is greater than the force of kinetic friction.
• This greater force causes the car to come to a halt in a shorter distance.

Answer:

• Because avoiding pressing the brakes allows us to stop in a shorter distance than if we smash the brakes, the vehicle will stop in a longer distance.