Final answer:
The total stopping distance for a vehicle with air brakes traveling at 55 mph includes the distance traveled during perception and reaction time plus the braking distance. Exact values require specific factors, but a general estimate suggests more than 100 meters for braking distance plus reaction distance.
Step-by-step explanation:
The approximate total stopping distance for an air brakes vehicle, such as a truck, traveling at 55 mph under normal driving conditions includes three main components: perception time, reaction time, and braking distance.
First, we calculate the distance the vehicle travels during the driver's perception and reaction time.
Assuming an average reaction time of 0.500s and a speed of 55 mph (which is approximately 24.6 m/s), the distance covered in this duration is about 12.3 meters.
Next, we add the braking distance, which varies based on multiple factors such as vehicle weight, brake condition, and road surface.
Unfortunately, without specific values, an exact number cannot be provided, but a typical braking distance at this speed on dry pavement would be well over 100 meters. Therefore, the total stopping distance is the sum of the perception and reaction distance and the braking distance.