You are driving at the speed of 26.5 m/s (59.2915 mph) when suddenly the car in front of you (previously traveling at the same speed) brakes and begins to slow down with the largest deceleration possible without skidding. Considering an average human reaction, you press your brakes 0.56 s later. You also brake and decelerate as rapidly as possible without skidding. Assume that the coefficient of static friction is 0.773 between both cars' wheels and the road. The acceleration of gravity is 9.8 m/s ² . Calculate the acceleration of the car in front of you when it brakes. 

a. Calculate the braking distance for the car in front of you. Answer in units of m.

b. Find the minimum safe distance at which you can follow the car in front of you and avoid hitting it (in the case of emergency braking described here). Answer in units of m.

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To calculate the acceleration of the car in front of you when it brakes we need to first find the ma... View the full answer