Tailgating Activity  

In this activity, students will apply their knowledge of kinematics to a tailgating problem. After testing individual reaction times and researching deceleration rates of various automobiles, they will use a computer model to test the safe following distance for a given situation. They will compare the results from the model to the safe following rule given to them in the driver's education classes.

TEACHER RESOURCES
Teacher Materials
Student Activity
Student
   Assessment

Learning
   Goals/Standards
COMPUTER MODEL
STELLA Version
Web-based Simulation
COMPUTER MODEL
Vensim Version

Based on Nicklin, R. C., "The Kinematics of Tailgating", The Physics Teacher, Vol 35, Feb 1997, p.78-79


THE MODEL DIAGRAM

THE EQUATIONS

Distance_Back_Car(t) = Distance_Back_Car(t - dt) + (Chg_Dist_Back) * dt
INIT Distance_Back_Car = 0
Chg_Dist_Back = Velocity_Back_Car*1.47
Distance_Front_Car(t) = Distance_Front_Car(t - dt) + (Chg_Dist_Front) * dt
INIT Distance_Front_Car = Carlengths_Between*16
Chg_Dist_Front = Velocity_Front_Car*1.47
Velocity_Back_Car(t) = Velocity_Back_Car(t - dt) + (- Decel_Back_Car) * dt
INIT Velocity_Back_Car = Initial_Velocity_Back
Decel_Back_Car = if time<(5+Rxn_Time_Back) then 0 else Decel_Rate_Back*0.682
Velocity_Front_Car(t) = Velocity_Front_Car(t - dt) + (- Decel_Front_Car) * dt
INIT Velocity_Front_Car = Initial_Velocity_Front_mph
Decel_Front_Car = IF time<5 then 0 else Decel_rate_Front*.682
Carlengths_Between = 4
Collision = if Collision_Velocity>0 then PAUSE else 0
Collision_Velocity = if (Distance_Front_Car-Distance_Back_Car)>0 then 0 else Relative_Velocity
Decel_Rate_Back = 28
Decel_rate_Front = 28
Distance_Between = ABS(Distance_Front_Car-Distance_Back_Car)/16
Initial_Velocity_Back = 45
Initial_Velocity_Front_mph = 45
Relative_Velocity = DELAY(ABS(Velocity_Front_Car-Velocity_Back_Car),DT)
Rxn_Time_Back = 0.45

THE OUTPUT



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