Final answer:
When your tires lose traction, you should ease off the accelerator and steer where you want to go. More friction is desirable in situations like athletics or rock climbing for better performance and safety. During braking, easing off the pedal allows tires to maintain static friction, leading to a smoother stop.
Step-by-step explanation:
If it feels like your tires have lost traction, the correct action to take is to ease off the accelerator and steer in the direction you want to go. This is because when tires lose traction, such as on icy roads, any sudden movements—like sharply turning the steering wheel, braking firmly or accelerating quickly—can cause the vehicle to skid or spin out of control. Instead, by easing off the accelerator, you reduce the vehicle's speed, which helps the tires regain traction. Steering in the direction you want to move is important for regaining control as the tires grip the road again.
More friction is desirable in many instances. For example, when athletes use running shoes with good grip on track and field surfaces, they do so to increase the friction between their shoes and the ground to prevent slipping and improve performance. Similarly, rock climbers use climbing shoes with rubber soles that provide high friction against the rock surface, enabling them to hold positions on steep angles or smooth surfaces.
The relationship between static and kinetic friction becomes evident when applying the brakes in a car. Just before the car comes to a stop, easing off the brake pedal slightly allows for a smoother stop. This smoothness is due to static friction being greater than kinetic friction, which means a rolling tire has more traction than a skidding one. When the brake is applied gently just before the vehicle stops, the tires maintain rolling contact with the ground instead of skidding, which is associated with kinetic friction.