Question

It is estimated that a driver takes, on average, 1.5 seconds from seeing an obstacle to reacting by applying the brake or swerving. How far will a car traveling at 60 miles per hour travel (in feet) before the driver reacts to an obstacle?

Answer 1

Answer:

The car was 132 feet far before the driver reacts to an obstacle.

Step-by-step explanation:

Given,

The speed of car = 60 miles per hour,

Also, time taken by the car to reacting the obstacle = 1.5 seconds = $\frac{1.5}{3600}=\frac{1}{2400}\text{ hours}$,

( 1 hour = 3600 seconds )

We know that,

Distance = Speed × Time,

Hence, the distance of car from the obstacle before reacting the obstacle

$= 60\times \frac{1}{2400}$

$=\frac{60}{2400}$

$=\frac{1}{40}\text{ miles}$

Since, 1 mile = 5280 feet

$\implies \frac{1}{40}\text{ miles }=\frac{5280}{40}=132\text{ feet}$

Therefore, the car would 132 feet far from the obstacle.

Answer 2

1.5 sec x (1 hr/3600 sec) x (60 miles/1 hr) x (5280 ft/1 mile)=132 ft