Final answer:
The reaction distance is calculated by multiplying the velocity of the vehicle by the driver's reaction time. For a vehicle traveling at 30.0 m/s with a reaction time of 0.500 seconds, the reaction distance is 15.0 meters.
Step-by-step explanation:
When a hazard is seen ahead, the reaction distance is how far a vehicle will continue to travel, in ideal conditions, before the driver hits the brakes. To determine the reaction distance, we assume that the velocity of the car remains constant during the driver's reaction time. Using a given example where a car travels at 30.0 m/s with a reaction time (treaction) of 0.500 s and the acceleration during reaction time (areaction) is 0, we can calculate the distance.
The reaction distance is simply the product of the velocity and the reaction time. Thus, reaction distance = velocity x reaction time, which in this case, is 30.0 m/s x 0.500 s = 15.0 m. This is the distance the car covers during the driver's reaction time before braking begins.