Final answer:
If your car starts hydroplaning, ease off the gas, avoid braking abruptly, and steer straight until you regain control. Like an object sliding on an oily, wet surface, a car can lose traction in similar conditions.
Step-by-step explanation:
When you determine your car is hydroplaning, it is essential to stay calm and avoid making sudden maneuvers. Hydroplaning occurs when a layer of water builds between the wheels of your car and the road surface, leading to a loss of traction and preventing the car from responding to control inputs. If you find yourself hydroplaning, gently ease off the accelerator, avoid using the brakes, and keep the steering wheel straight until you regain traction. Once your car slows down and you feel the tires regain their grip on the road, you can gently apply the brakes if necessary. This situation is similar to a take-home experiment where spraying water and then oil on a table demonstrates how the introduction of these substances decreases friction, making it more challenging for an object (or a vehicle) to maintain control. Just as the plastic object slides more when oil is added on top of water, a car can lose control on a wet road, especially one that's also oily, such as right after a light rain shower.