Braking Distance (How To Calculate Braking Distance)

Braking Distance

It is the distance traversed by a vehicle between the points, at which brakes are applied and the point at which the vehicle comes to stop.

How To Calculate Braking Distance

Braking distance may be obtained by equating the work done in stopping the vehicle and the kinetic energy. If v is the design speed of the vehicle in m/sec, f is the coefficient of friction, W is the total weight of the vehicle and g is the acceleration due to gravity = 9.81 meter per second square, I is the braking distance then:

kinetic energy at design speed = \frac{mv^{2}}{2} = \frac{Wv^{2}}{2g}

Work done against friction force in stopping the vehicle = f.W. I

Hence, f.W.I =  \frac{Wv^{2}}{2g}

or, I = \frac{v^{2}}{2gf}

If  V is the speed of the vehicle in kilometer per hour(Kmph), then

When (V) speed in Kmph then, v =0.278V