An empty truck:
Answers
Requires a shorter stopping distance than a full truck.
Requires a longer stopping distance than a full truck.
Takes the same distance to stop as a full truck.
The Correct Answer and Explanation is :
The correct answer is: Requires a longer stopping distance than a full truck.
Explanation:
An empty truck requires a longer stopping distance compared to a full truck. This might seem counterintuitive at first, but it is due to the way the vehicle’s weight affects braking.
- Friction and Traction: When a truck is empty, it has less weight pressing down on its tires, which reduces the friction between the tires and the road surface. Friction is essential for providing the grip needed to stop the vehicle. A lighter vehicle has less traction, meaning its tires are more likely to skid or lose contact with the road surface, leading to a longer stopping distance.
- Momentum: According to Newton’s laws of motion, an object’s momentum (its mass multiplied by its velocity) determines the force required to stop it. A full truck, which has more mass, will generally require a greater force to stop than an empty truck. However, a full truck also has more weight, and thus more friction, which allows it to decelerate more effectively. The empty truck has a higher risk of losing traction with the road because it is lighter, and the force needed to stop it is less efficiently managed.
- Braking Efficiency: Empty trucks may also face challenges such as uneven weight distribution, which can cause the brakes to engage unevenly. This can reduce the overall effectiveness of the braking system, leading to a longer stopping time. On the other hand, a full truck’s weight helps keep the vehicle stable, and the braking system is better able to apply consistent pressure.
- Road Conditions and Speed: On certain surfaces, especially slippery or wet roads, the effects of reduced traction become more significant in empty trucks. In addition, at higher speeds, the difference in stopping distances between an empty and a full truck becomes even more pronounced.
In summary, while an empty truck has less mass and theoretically should require less force to stop, its reduced traction and braking efficiency lead to a longer stopping distance compared to a full truck.