Final answer:
The distance a vehicle travels between the time the driver recognizes a problem and applies the brakes is known as the reaction distance. It depends on factors such as the driver's reaction time and the initial velocity of the vehicle.
Step-by-step explanation:
The distance a vehicle travels between the time the driver recognizes a problem and the time she applies the brakes is known as the reaction distance
It is the distance covered while the driver is reacting to the problem and initiating the braking process. The reaction distance depends on factors such as the driver's reaction time and the initial velocity of the vehicle.
For example, if a car is initially traveling at 30.0 m/s and the driver's reaction time is 0.500s, the reaction distance can be calculated by multiplying the velocity by the reaction time:
Reaction distance = Velocity × Reaction time
It is important for drivers to recognize problems quickly and have a faster reaction time to minimize the reaction distance and reduce the risk of accidents.