Final answer:
To stop a front wheel skid, one should release the brakes to allow the tires to regain traction through static friction, enabling controlled braking.
Step-by-step explanation:
When a front wheel of a car skids, the most effective way to stop the skid is to release the brakes. Skidding occurs when the tires lose their grip on the road, leading to a loss of traction and thus the car's tires slide along the surface rather than rolling. This is typically a result of kinetic friction overcoming static friction. Static friction is the friction force that keeps an object at rest and prevents it from starting to move, whereas kinetic friction is the friction between moving surfaces. When you brake hard and the wheels lock up, they are no longer able to roll, and they slide instead, which means kinetic friction is at play.
To regain control of the car and stop the skid, you need to reduce the braking force to allow the tires to roll again and gain the traction that comes with static friction. Once the wheels start rolling, you can more safely and effectively use the brakes to come to a stop without skidding.