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Truck stopping distances?



Why does it take a truck further to stop than a car? Data on many web sites
gives about a 50% increase in stopping distances.

BUT

HS physics friction problems typically ask students to calculate the
stopping distance of a vehicle with speed x and COF y. This shows that the
mass of the object is cancelled when finding the acceleration and therefore
should be independent of the stopping distance.

Same tires, same pavement.
What is different about the braking systems?

Web searches only reveal that the distances are greater. No mention of why -
besides the fact that trucks are heavier - useless.

Scott



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S.Goelzer
Physics Teacher
Coe - Brown Northwood Academy
Northwood NH 03261
603-942-5531 ext43
sgoelzer@coebrownacademy.com
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