Grade 11 Stopping Distance Lab

Instructions
In this experiment, you will use a simulation to investigate the effect of the speed of a car on the distance it moves
before coming to a stop on application of brakes, and the role of the state of the road/tires on it.

Important Note: - If you do any work on Excel, you need to submit the Excel file also to get marks. 

Experiment Procedure
1. Click the link to the virtual lab Stopping Distance.

(http://www.thephysicsaviary.com/Physics/Programs/Labs/StoppingDistanceLab/)

2. Click Begin.

Part 1 – Relationship between Stopping Distance and Car Speed

1. Keep the Mass (of the Car) as 1000 kg.
2. Click the down arrows below the label Speed to change the speed to 10 m/s.
3. Keep the state of the road and tires as Dry Road / New Tires.
4. Click Start.
5. As soon as the Stop sign appears, click Brake.
6. Record the Car Speed and the Stopping distance in the table below in Columns 1 and 2. Measure stopping
distance from the 0 mark.

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 7. Conduct the observations for the remaining car speeds listed in the table.
8. Change the state of the road and tires as Dry Road / Old Tires.
9. Repeat the observations for the different car speeds listed and record them in the Column 3.
10. Calculate the values for the column v 2.

Stopping Distance d (m)

Mass of Car = 1000 kg Car Speed
v (m/s) Dry Road / New Dry Road / Old v 2( m/s2 )
Tires Tires
10
15
20
25
30

11. Use the data in columns 2 and 4 and plot a graph between Stopping distance d and v 2, the square of car speed
for the case of Dry Road/New Tires.
12. On the same graph, using a different color, plot the graph between Stopping distance d and v 2, the square of car
speed for the case of Dry Road/Old Tires (use data in columns 3 and 4). The graph must have the correct labels
for the title, axes, and units. You can plot it by hand on a graph paper, take a picture and paste it. You could also
use Microsoft Excel to generate the graph and paste that chart.

Analysis Part 1:

1. How does d change as v 2 increases? What kind of mathematical relationship does it indicate?

2. What is the difference between the graphs for Dry Road/New Tires and Dry Road/Old Tires? What physical
factor in their conditions causes them to be different?

3. Calculate the acceleration provided by the car brakes for Dry Road/New Tires and for Dry Road/Old Tires. Show
all steps.

4. Calculate the values of coefficient of friction for the case of Dry Road/New Tires and Dry Road/Old Tires. Show
all steps.

5. Calculate the coefficient of friction for the case of Dry Road/New Tires and Dry Road/Old Tires using the work-
energy theorem. Is it the same as obtained in Step 5?

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Part 2 – Relationship between Mass of Car and Retardation
Repeat the observations in columns 1 and 2 of Part 1 but after setting the mass of the car to 1500 kg.

Car Speed v Stopping Distance d (m)

Mass of Car = 1500 kg

(m/s) For Dry Road / New Tires

10
15
20
25
30
Analysis Part 2:

1. Compare the stopping distances in Part 1 (for mass of car =1000 kg) for the same car speed and Dr Road/New
Tires with the values for mass of car = 1500 kg. Is there any difference between them?

2. Is the stopping distance of the car dependent on the mass of the car? Explain the reasons for your answer.

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