Final answer:
Overriding headlights at night happens when a car's stopping distance is greater than the illuminated range of its headlights. Key factors include headlight brightness, vehicle speed, and driver reaction time. A claim of being blinded by the moon is not credible, and superconductors would prevent headlight dimming due to lack of electrical resistance.
Step-by-step explanation:
Overriding your headlights at night can be a dangerous phenomenon that occurs when a driver is traveling at a speed such that their stopping distance exceeds the distance illuminated by the vehicle's headlights. This is influenced by several factors, including the brightness and reach of the headlights, the speed of the vehicle, and the reaction time of the driver. Inadequate lighting, high speeds, and delayed responses contribute to this issue.
At the core, the overriding of headlights is tied to the limitation of visible range against the stopping distance. For instance, if a car's headlights only illuminate 100 meters ahead, but the car requires 120 meters to come to a complete stop at its current speed, the driver is effectively “overriding” their headlights. They will not have enough lit distance to react and stop in time for an obstacle lying beyond the illuminated range.
Headlight brightness, vehicle speed, and reaction time are critical in determining whether a driver is at risk of overriding their headlights. A full moon, urban legends aside, is unlikely to cause significant temporary blindness to drivers, so a claim of being blinded by the moon would generally not be considered credible by authorities. In the discussion on the power consumption of headlights, we learn that headlights initially draw more power when cold and quickly stabilize as the bulb's temperature rises due to the increasing resistance.
If the wires in a car were superconductors, theoretically, the headlights would not dim upon starting the car's engine because superconductors have no electrical resistance. However, it is important to note the battery's internal resistance still plays a role in the car's electrical system performance.