Alberta Commercial Driver Practice Exam

The assertion regarding the braking force is based on the physical principles of physics, particularly the impact of mass and speed on stopping distances and forces. When considering braking scenarios, it's essential to understand that the braking force required to stop a vehicle depends on both its weight and its speed.

In the case presented, a heavier vehicle traveling at a lower speed will not require the same braking force as a lighter vehicle traveling at a higher speed. For example, while the first vehicle has a mass of 4000 kg and is moving at 50 kph, the second vehicle, weighing 2000 kg and traveling at 100 kph, has been shown to require more braking force to bring it to a stop. This is because kinetic energy, which must be dissipated through braking, increases with the square of the speed, and the greater mass also contributes to the total energy that needs to be managed.

Therefore, as the speed increases, the braking force necessary to achieve the same rate of deceleration becomes substantially higher. By understanding these concepts, it is clear why the statement that both vehicles require the same braking force is false.

The other statements highlight accurate principles related to braking: the doubled speed does indeed result in a quadrupled braking force requirement due