If a vehicle is traveling at twice the speed, how much will the stopping distance increase?

When a vehicle is traveling at a higher speed, the stopping distance increases significantly due to the physics of motion. Specifically, the stopping distance is influenced by the vehicle's speed; when speed doubles, the kinetic energy of the vehicle does not just double but increases with the square of the speed. This means that if a vehicle travels at twice the speed, its stopping distance will increase by a factor of four.

This relationship arises from the basic equations of motion. The formula for stopping distance includes the vehicle's speed squared, indicating that the stopping distance is proportional to the square of the speed. Therefore, when the speed is doubled, the stopping distance becomes four times longer due to the need to overcome this greater kinetic energy and allow for appropriate braking time.

In summary, traveling at twice the speed results in quadrupling the stopping distance, which is why the correct answer indicates that the stopping distance increases by four times. This knowledge is crucial for safe driving, as it emphasizes the importance of adjusting speed in relation to stopping distances to maintain safety on the road.