Thinking Distance
Contents
Key Stage 4
Meaning
Thinking distance is the distance a car travels between the moment a hazard appears and the moment the driver responds to it by applying the brakes.
About Thinking Distance
Thinking distance depends on:
- The speed of the vehicle - The greater the speed the larger the thinking distance.
- The reaction time of the driver - The longer the reaction time the longer the thinking distance and therefore stopping distance.
- Thinking distance can be affected by drugs such as stimulants and depressants. Stimulants allow you to react faster so there is a shorter reaction time and therefore a shorter thinking distance. Depressants slow reactions so there is a longer reaction time and therefore a longer thinking distance.
- Alcohol is a depressant so it increases thinking distance making it dangerous to drive after drinking alcohol.
- Tiredness increases reaction time which increases thinking distance which makes driving while tired more dangerous.
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References
AQA
- Thinking distance, braking, pages 242, GCSE Combined Science Trilogy 2, Hodder, AQA
- Thinking distance, page 164, GCSE Physics, Hodder, AQA
- Thinking distance, page 166, GCSE Physics; Student Book, Collins, AQA
- Thinking distance, page 215, GCSE Combined Science; The Revision Guide, CGP, AQA
- Thinking distance, pages 148-149, 157, GCSE Physics; Third Edition, Oxford University Press, AQA
- Thinking distance, pages 67, 69, GCSE Physics; The Revision Guide, CGP, AQA
- Thinking distances, pages 176-178, GCSE Combined Science Trilogy; Physics, CGP, AQA
- Thinking distances, pages 208-210, GCSE Physics; The Complete 9-1 Course for AQA, CGP, AQA
Edexcel
- Thinking distance, page 26, GCSE Physics, Pearson Edexcel
- Thinking distances, page 155, GCSE Combined Science; The Revision Guide, CGP, Edexcel
- Thinking distances, pages 22, 23, GCSE Physics; The Revision Guide, CGP, Edexcel
- Thinking distances, pages 49, 51, 52, GCSE Physics, CGP, Edexcel