Back to Chapter 9
Mark schemePDF

Chapter 9 Practice Paper: Stopping distances — question paper

QuizQuipPractice Series
QQ/GCSE-PHYS/CH9

GCSE (9–1) · GCSE Physics (Foundation and Higher)

Chapter 9 Practice Paper

Stopping distances

Duration: 40 minutes
Total: 30 marks
Name:
Class:
Register No.:
Date:

READ THESE INSTRUCTIONS FIRST

  • Answer all questions.
  • Section A contains ten multiple-choice questions. Choose one answer, A, B, C or D, for each.
  • Section B contains structured questions. Write your answers in the spaces provided.
  • You may use a calculator.
  • The number of marks is given in brackets [ ] at the end of each question or part question.
  • The total mark for this paper is 30.

Original practice material written for the MOE GCSE Physics syllabus. It is not an official MOE or school examination paper. Chapter 9: thinking and braking distance, reaction-time factors, road and vehicle factors, braking energy transfer, speed-squared scaling, and force estimates in emergency stops.

For Examiner’s Use
Section A/ 10
Section B/ 20
Total/ 30

Section A: Multiple-choice questions[10 marks]

Choose one answer for each question. Each question is worth 1 mark.

  1. 1

    The stopping distance of a car is

    1. Athinking distance + braking distance
    2. Bbraking distance − thinking distance
    3. Cspeed × braking distance
    4. Dreaction time only
    ( )
  2. 2

    While a driver is reacting, the car’s speed is

    1. Aincreasing
    2. Bzero
    3. Chalved
    4. Dunchanged
    ( )
  3. 3

    Which factor affects only the thinking distance?

    1. Aicy road
    2. Bworn brake pads
    3. Ctired driver
    4. Dloaded boot
    ( )
  4. 4

    For the same deceleration, braking from 20 m/s instead of 10 m/s multiplies the braking distance by

    1. A2
    2. B4
    3. C8
    4. D16
    ( )
  5. 5

    The energy shed by the brakes during a stop comes from the

    1. Akinetic store
    2. Bchemical store of the fuel
    3. Cgravitational store
    4. Delastic store
    ( )
  6. 6

    Braking at 4.0 m/s² from 24 m/s needs a distance of

    1. A7.2 m
    2. B192 m
    3. C96 m
    4. D72 m
    ( )
  7. 7

    Wet leaves on the road are dangerous because they

    1. Araise reaction time
    2. Breduce grip for braking
    3. Cincrease engine power
    4. Dwarm the tyres
    ( )
  8. 8

    A typical alert reaction time is about

    1. A0.5 s
    2. B5 s
    3. C0.005 s
    4. D50 s
    ( )
  9. 9

    Braking from 30 m/s at 6.0 m/s² needs a distance of

    1. A5 m
    2. B180 m
    3. C75 m
    4. D360 m
    ( )
  10. 10

    A heavier van stops more slowly mainly because its brakes must shed more

    1. Athermal energy
    2. Bkinetic energy
    3. Cchemical energy
    4. Dnuclear energy
    ( )

Section B: Structured questions[20 marks]

Answer all questions in the spaces provided.

  1. 11

    A driver travelling at 25 m/s spots a hazard. Their reaction time is 0.80 s; the brakes then decelerate the car at 6.25 m/s².

    1. (a)

      Work out the thinking distance.

      [2]
    2. (b)

      Work out the braking distance.

      [2]
    3. (c)

      State the total stopping distance.

      [1]
    4. (d)

      Name one real-world condition that stretches stopping distances beyond these figures.

      [1]
  2. 12

    This question is about braking physics.

    1. (a)

      Explain why the braking distance grows with the square of the speed, using kinetic energy.

      [3]
    2. (b)

      A 1 400 kg car brakes from 28 m/s to rest in 140 m. Calculate the deceleration and the braking force.

      [3]
    3. (c)

      Explain one danger of braking with a force much larger than this.

      [2]
    4. (d)

      State where the removed kinetic energy goes.

      [1]
  3. 13

    A road-safety officer compares two drivers at 31 m/s: one alert (0.7 s reaction), one sleepy (2.1 s reaction). Both brake at 5.5 m/s².

    1. (a)

      Calculate the alert driver’s total stopping distance.

      [2]
    2. (b)

      Calculate how much further the sleepy driver stops.

      [2]
    3. (c)

      State the physics conclusion about reaction time and speed.

      [1]

— End of paper —