Final answer:
Most tires maintain good traction on wet roads up to the point where friction is reduced due to water. A car with a deceleration rate of 5.00 m/s² can stop from 30 m/s in a distance of 90 meters on wet concrete. Reaction time and temperature can significantly alter these distances and the overall safety of vehicle operation.
Step-by-step explanation:
When it is raining or the road is wet, most tires have good traction up to the point where their ability to maintain grip on the road diminishes due to reduced friction. In physics, the traction of a tire can be quantified by the coefficient of friction between the tire and the road surface. According to the given physics problem, on wet concrete, a car can decelerate at a rate of 5.00 m/s² without skidding. Stopping distance calculations are used to determine how far the car travels before it comes to a complete stop and are critical for driving safety.
To find the stopping distance of a car moving at 30 m/s on wet concrete, one would use the formula d = (v²)/(2a), where v is the initial velocity and a is the deceleration rate. With a deceleration of 5.00 m/s², the stopping distance would be (30 m/s)² / (2 × 5.00 m/s²) = 90 meters. This distance is increased when the driver's reaction time is accounted for, highlighting the importance of driver awareness and the effects of road conditions on vehicle stopping distances.
Furthermore, the example regarding tire pressure changes with temperature demonstrates the importance of tire maintenance and how environmental conditions can further influence driving safety.