Final answer:
Thinking distance is the distance a car travels before a driver starts to brake. For a vehicle traveling at 60 mph with an average reaction time of 0.75 seconds, the estimated thinking distance is approximately 20.1 meters.
Step-by-step explanation:
The question revolves around estimating the thinking distance for a car traveling at a certain speed, in this case, 60 mph. Thinking distance refers to the distance a vehicle travels in the time it takes for the driver to react and begin braking. This is typically calculated using a driver's average reaction time of about 0.5 to 1.5 seconds depending on various factors. The formula to estimate the thinking distance is:
Thinking Distance = Speed × Reaction Time.
Assuming an average reaction time of 0.75 seconds for a typical driver, and converting 60 mph into meters per second, which is approximately 26.8 m/s (since 1 mph is equal to 0.44704 m/s), the calculation would be:
Thinking Distance = 26.8 m/s × 0.75 s = 20.1 meters.
Note that this is an approximation and the actual thinking distance can vary based on the driver's condition, level of alertness, and environmental factors.