Lesson 6.5.4.3.1

6.5.4.3.1 Stopping distance Quiz: AQA Combined Science, Unit 22

20 questions

Written by Revision Ninja · Last reviewed 11 October 2026

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Lesson 6.5.4.3.1, Stopping distance: 20 multiple choice questions for the AQA GCSE Combined Science (8464), Unit 22: Forces, written with Revision Ninja.

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The 20 questions

  1. What two distances combine to make the total stopping distance of a vehicle?

    • Speed and reaction
    • Reaction and sliding
    • Braking and acceleration
    • Thinking and braking

  2. What is the distance a vehicle travels during the driver's reaction time called?

    • Reaction distance
    • Thinking distance
    • Braking distance
    • Stopping distance

  3. What is the distance a vehicle travels once the brakes are applied called?

    • Reaction distance
    • Thinking distance
    • Stopping distance
    • Braking distance

  4. What happens to a vehicle stopping distance when speed increases for a given braking force?

    • Decreases
    • Increases
    • Halves
    • Stays the same

  5. A car has a thinking distance of 12 m and a braking distance of 24 m. Its stopping distance is:

    • 24 m
    • 2 m
    • 36 m
    • 12 m

  6. At 15 m/s a car has a thinking distance of 15 m and a braking distance of 30 m. Its stopping distance is:

    • 30 m
    • 450 m
    • 15 m
    • 45 m

  7. Which environmental factor directly affects the braking distance of a vehicle?

    • Mobile phone use
    • Alcohol consumption
    • Driver tiredness
    • Icy road conditions

  8. With the same brakes, doubling a vehicle's speed makes its braking distance roughly:

    • Stay the same
    • Halve
    • Double
    • Quadruple

  9. A car travels at 20 m/s with a reaction time of 0.5 s. Its thinking distance is:

    • 0.025 m
    • 40 m
    • 10 m
    • 5 m

  10. A car travels at 30 m/s with a reaction time of 0.7 s. Its thinking distance is:

    • 42.9 m
    • 30 m
    • 21 m
    • 0.023 m

  11. (Harder) A stopping distance is 60 m and the thinking distance is 20 m. The braking distance is:

    • 80 m
    • 20 m
    • 40 m
    • 60 m

  12. Stopping distance is measured in which unit?

    • Metres per second (m/s)
    • Seconds (s)
    • Newtons (N)
    • Metres (m)

  13. Why does a higher speed result in a longer braking distance?

    • Shorter reaction time
    • Higher friction
    • More kinetic energy
    • Less mass

  14. A car at 30 m/s has a thinking distance of 30 m and a stopping distance of 90 m. Its braking distance is:

    • 60 m
    • 30 m
    • 120 m
    • 3 m

  15. How does total stopping distance compare to thinking distance alone?

    • Always smaller
    • Always greater
    • Always equal
    • Half the value

  16. Which factor affects a driver's thinking distance?

    • Icy roads
    • Tiredness
    • Worn tyres
    • Worn brakes

  17. (Harder) A car brakes with a deceleration of 5 m/s2 from 20 m/s. The braking distance is:

    • 40 m
    • 20 m
    • 100 m
    • 4 m

  18. (Harder) A car's braking distance is 40 m at 20 m/s. If the braking force doubles, the braking distance becomes:

    • 20 m
    • 80 m
    • 40 m
    • 10 m

  19. (Harder) A car at 25 m/s has a reaction time of 0.6 s. Its thinking distance is:

    • 1.5 m
    • 25 m
    • 42 m
    • 15 m

  20. Which part of stopping distance increases when a driver becomes distracted?

    • Braking force
    • Thinking distance
    • Braking distance
    • Vehicle mass

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