Final answer:
The stopping time for a car traveling at 55 MPH varies and is influenced by numerous factors such as road conditions, tire conditions, and driver's reaction time. Physics formulas are used to calculate the stopping time and distance, typically taught in high school or introductory college classes.
Step-by-step explanation:
The time it takes for a car traveling at 55 MPH to come to a complete stop after braking suddenly can vary significantly based on conditions such as road surface, tire condition, and whether the car has anti-lock brakes. However, we can approximate this using the concept of deceleration and stopping distance.
Another important factor is the driver's reaction time, which is the time taken by the driver to respond to an obstacle and start braking. The average reaction time is usually considered to be around 1.5 seconds. After the driver starts braking, the vehicle's stopping distance depends on its initial speed and the deceleration rate, which is influenced by the coefficient of friction between the tires and the road, and can be calculated using physics formulas.
As an example, a truck traveling at 10 m/s with a deceleration rate of -1.25 m/s2 and a reaction time of 0.5 seconds would take a specific amount of time and distance to stop.
To determine the time and distance it would take for a car to stop from 55 MPH, similar calculations would be required, often carried out as part of a physics problem in high school or an introductory college class.