Car brakes. Image driverside.com

Car brakes. Image driverside.com

ZIMSEC O Level Combined Science Notes: Hydraulic brakes

  • Is another example of hydraulic machines
  • Pressure is applied on the brake pedal using the car driver’s foot
Car brakes. Image credit dtzone.com

Car brakes. Image credit dtzone.com

  • The pedal causes the piston in the master cylinder to compress the brake fluid
  • This pressure is then passed on equally to larger pistons in the wheel cylinders
  • This pressure forces the brake pads against the wheels
  • The friction between the wheels and the pads stops the car
  • The brake pedal is a lever
  • There is a pivot between the effort force and the load force
  • The lever changes the direction of the force on the brakes

To access more topics go to the Combined Science Notes page