Page 137 - Big Ideas Year 10 sciPAD 2025

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SCIPAD - BIG IDEAS - BOOK 2
FORCES AND MOTION
N E W Z E A L A N D
POLICE
N g a P i r i m a n a O A o t e a r o a
ROAD TRAFFICE DIVISION
J1410-R2210-H2313
INCIDENT REPORT
Attending Officer: PC Eva Ramos
Details of Incident: At 9.05 am, Mr A. Teacher was
involved in an accident involving a Transit Van. He
states this is a support vehicle for the New
Zealand Secondary Schools’ Race Team.
The vehicle collided with a power pole on the
corner of Ruby Road and Main Street.
Mr Teacher states he was travelling at 50 kmph.
His skid marks were 32 metres long. The road
surface was dry and no other vehicles were involved.
Before you can investigate this accident you need to do some research into stopping distances.
Read the notes below and answer the questions that follow.
1. Decide whether the following factors will increase or decrease the reaction distance,
increase or decrease the braking distance, or have no effect on them. Use the words
“increase” , “decrease” or leave it blank if you think that there is no effect.
Factors Reaction distance Braking distance
Rough surface
Tired driver
Wet road
Sand on the road
Worn tyres
Drunk driver
Brand new tyres
The Faster You Go......
The NZSS Race Team Manager has just been to see you. She has received a phone call from the
Police informing him that Mr A. Teacher has been involved in an accident. As the Race Team’s
Scientific Analyst, she would like you to conduct an investigation into what caused the accident
and to determine if it was Mr Teacher’s fault. You have been given a copy of the Police report.
Stopping Distances
When a driver in a moving car sees a hazard ahead, the car travels a certain distance before
the driver reacts and applies the brakes. The distance travelled in this time is called the reaction
distance. This is followed by the braking distance, which is the distance covered by the car after
the brakes are applied and before the car stops.
Many factors affect the stopping distance of a car; the type of road surface, the condition of
the road surface (whether it is wet or dry for example), the state of the tyres. The driver’s health
and state of mind can also affect the total stopping distance.
Reaction Distance Braking Distance
Total stopping distance = reaction distance + braking distance
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