The graph shows thinking and braking distances for a car at different speeds. (a) Describe how thinking distance varies with increasing speed. Use data from the graph in your answer. (b)(i) Use the graph to find the thinking distance at 24 m/s. Thinking distance = (ii) Calculate the thinking time at 24 m/s. Use your answer to (b)(i) and the equation: distance travelled = speed × time. Give your answer to 2 decimal places. Thinking time = (c)(i) State one factor that could increase thinking distance. (ii) Calculate the stopping distance at 15 m/s. Use the graph to help you. Stopping distance = (d) How does the speed affect the kinetic energy and braking distance of the car? Use the graph in your answer.

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The graph shows thinking and braking distances for a car at different speeds - OCR Gateway - GCSE Physics - Question 25 - 2019 - Paper 1

Question 25

The graph shows thinking and braking distances for a car at different speeds. (a) Describe how thinking distance varies with increasing speed. Use data from the gr... show full transcript

Worked Solution & Example Answer:The graph shows thinking and braking distances for a car at different speeds - OCR Gateway - GCSE Physics - Question 25 - 2019 - Paper 1

Step 1

Describe how thinking distance varies with increasing speed.

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Answer

Thinking distance increases linearly with speed. From the graph, at 0 m/s, the thinking distance is approximately 0 m, and as the speed reaches 30 m/s, the thinking distance approaches 60 m. This indicates that faster speeds require longer thinking distances to react.

Step 2

Use the graph to find the thinking distance at 24 m/s.

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Answer

The thinking distance at 24 m/s is approximately 48 m, as indicated by the graph.

Step 3

Calculate the thinking time at 24 m/s.

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Answer

Using the formula:

$ext{thinking time} = \frac{\text{thinking distance}}{\text{speed}} = \frac{48 \text{ m}}{24 \text{ m/s}} = 2.00 \text{ s}$

The thinking time is 2.00 s.

Step 4

State one factor that could increase thinking distance.

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Answer

One factor that could increase thinking distance is driver impairment, such as distractions or fatigue.

Step 5

Calculate the stopping distance at 15 m/s.

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Answer

From the graph, the stopping distance at 15 m/s is approximately 35 m.

Step 6

How does the speed affect the kinetic energy and braking distance of the car?

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Answer

As speed increases, the kinetic energy of the car increases exponentially, because kinetic energy is given by the formula:

$KE = \frac{1}{2}mv^2$

where m is mass and v is speed. This means that at higher speeds, a greater distance is needed to bring the car to a stop, leading to increased braking distances, as shown in the graph.

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The graph shows thinking and braking distances for a car at different speeds - OCR Gateway - GCSE Physics - Question 25 - 2019 - Paper 1

Worked Solution & Example Answer:The graph shows thinking and braking distances for a car at different speeds - OCR Gateway - GCSE Physics - Question 25 - 2019 - Paper 1

Describe how thinking distance varies with increasing speed.

Use the graph to find the thinking distance at 24 m/s.

Calculate the thinking time at 24 m/s.

State one factor that could increase thinking distance.

Calculate the stopping distance at 15 m/s.

How does the speed affect the kinetic energy and braking distance of the car?

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