Final answer:
Wet brakes are indeed less efficient at stopping a vehicle than dry brakes due to reduced friction, which is demonstrated by the longer stopping distances required on wet surfaces.
Step-by-step explanation:
It is true that wet brakes may be less efficient at stopping your vehicle than dry brakes. The presence of water can reduce the friction between the brake pads and the wheels, which in turn increases the braking distance compared to when the pavement is dry. This effect is explained by the physics of friction and motion, which demonstrates that less friction results in less stopping power.
The reaction time of the driver, combined with road conditions, significantly affects the total stopping distance of a vehicle. The approach to solving these problems in physics often includes determining the known quantities and finding an equation that can relate them to the unknown quantities to predict outcomes like stopping distances under various conditions.