Enter the velocity of a car and the coefficient of friction between the tires and the road into the calculator to determine the stopping distance.

Stopping Distance Formula

The following formula is used to calculate the stopping distance of a moving object.

D = v^2 / (2*u*g)
  • Where D is the stopping distance (m)
  • v is the velocity (m/s)
  • u is the coefficient of friction
  • g is the acceleration due to gravity (9.8 m/s^2)

To calculate the stopping distance, square the velocity, then divide by the product of 2 times the coefficient of friction times the acceleration due to gravity.


FAQ

What is a stopping distance?

A stopping distance is a term usually applied to cars that describes the total amount of distance to stop when a car brakes from a certain speed. The formula above assumes constant friction, which may not be the case if the car’s wheels are rolling then start to slide and vice versa.


stopping distance calculator
stopping distance formula