If a vehicle's speed doubles, what happens to the stopping distance?

When a vehicle's speed doubles, the stopping distance increases significantly due to the physics involved in braking. Stopping distance is affected by kinetic energy and the time it takes to react and stop the vehicle. Kinetic energy increases with the square of the speed, which means that if you double the speed, the kinetic energy becomes four times greater.

To put it simply, when a vehicle travels at a higher speed, it needs more distance to come to a complete stop. This is proportional to the square of the speed, so doubling the speed results in a stopping distance that is four times longer than it would be at the original speed. This principle is critical for safe driving, as it highlights the importance of maintaining an appropriate speed for the conditions to ensure adequate stopping distance.