1. Physics of Paying Attention
Stopping Distance
Reaction time Lab
Texting and Driving
Physics of Paying Attention

2. SCENARIO
Imagine your traveling in a car at 68mi/hr and you look away for one second to [change the radio station / check a text message / to look at the pretty trees / or any reason], why is it a bad idea to do this?

3. Physics Distance traveled in a second. Human Reaction Time
Breaking Distance.

4. So in that second you travel 100 feet!
Distance Traveled
68mi/hr is the same as 100ft/s.
So in that second you travel 100 feet!

5. You are moving 100ft/s while this is going on!
Reaction Time
Perception time (recognize the danger)
Reaction time (decide what to do)
Action time (pushing the break pedal).
You are moving 100ft/s while this is going on!
1s = 100 more feet

6. WORK AND KINETIC ENERGY (KE = ½ mv2) (W=Fd)
Breaking Distance
WORK AND KINETIC ENERGY (KE = ½ mv2) (W=Fd)

7. Breaking Distance At 68mi/hr its about 250ft. This assumes:
--roads are dry
--your tires are in optimal shape
--your breaks are good.

8. Stopping Distance 68mi/hr
100 feet (looking away for a second).
100 feet (thinking and reacting).
250 feet (breaking distance).
450 total feet to stop!

9. Stopping Distance 35mi/hr
~50 feet (looking away for a second).
~50 feet (thinking and reacting).
~60 feet (breaking distance).
160 total feet to stop!