Tuesday, September 11, 2012

Brakes Basics

The brakes are important in a car. They are used to slow down and stop a car by converting kinetic (moving) energy into heat energy through the process of friction.  This friction occurs in the brake rotors and pads, which a cylinder is filled with pressurised fluid (brake fluid) which forces the pads onto a brake rotor.  The friction of this converts kinetic energy into heat energy.  

The braking system has a master cylinder, and the pots in the brake callipers.  Pressing the brake pedal pushes the fluid inside the master cylinder, with leverage to increase torque, in this case by 800%.  (length of pedal/distance between pivot point and master cylinder, 400/50=8 > 800%).  






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