Quote:
Originally posted by island_dude
Chris,
Yep its energy that increases as the square of the velocity. Assuming that your brakes are at their maximum capacity without locking up, your stopping distance will increase by four times. In practical driving situations stopping distances will increase by some amount compared to driving slower. The point is that this is not a linear relationship. Once the brake system is at capacity stopping distance will be proportional to the amount of energy that is built up in the vehicle.
My point is that other than noting a reduction in reaction time, nobody has seized on this point. No matter how good your reaction times are, there is an increase in stopping distance and its not linear. That means a lot of folks are speeding along with a flawed idea of how much stopping distance they really require.
>Maybe you are thinking of energy as in E = 1/2mv^2 i.e. twice >as fast = 4 times as much energy?
>I suppose if you go twice as fast your brakes will have to dump >4 times as much energy (heat) but I don't know if that will >effect your stopping distance - which is a function of your tires.
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You just can't "assume your brakes are at their maximum capacity" because it suits you. What would that mean anyway? You brake fluid boils? Not going to happen in a single stop even with crappy brakes.
Double your speed, double your braking distance.
-Chris