Final answer:
To cut out the brakes on a car, the train operator should release the brake pedal. When coming to a smooth stop in a car, easing up on the brake pedal right before stopping smoothly transitions from kinetic to static friction.
Step-by-step explanation:
To cut out the brakes on a car, the train operator should release the brake pedal. However, when learning to drive a car and needing to come to a smooth stop, it is important to understand the relationship between static and kinetic friction. Static friction is the force that keeps stationary objects at rest, and it is generally stronger than kinetic friction, which is the force that occurs when objects slide past each other. When you depress the brake pedal firmly, the car slows down due to kinetic friction, but if you maintain the same pressure until complete stop, the car may stop with a drag because the strong static friction suddenly halts the wheels. To avoid this, you should let up slightly on the brake pedal as you come to a stop so that the transition from kinetic to static friction is smoother, resulting in a more gentle stop.