Final answer:
In physics, stopping distance refers to the total distance a moving object, such as a car, travels to come to a complete stop. It consists of two components: the reaction distance and the braking distance.
Step-by-step explanation:
In physics, stopping distance refers to the total distance a moving object, such as a car, travels to come to a complete stop. It consists of two components: the reaction distance and the braking distance.
The reaction distance is the distance the car travels during the driver's reaction time, which is the time it takes for the driver to perceive a hazard and decide to apply the brakes. The reaction distance depends on the driver's reaction time and the initial velocity of the car.
The braking distance is the distance the car travels while decelerating to a stop after the brakes are applied. It depends on factors such as the coefficient of friction between the tires and the road, the initial velocity of the car, and the deceleration of the car.