Final answer:
The brake shoes or linings are pressed against the brake drums or rotors. This action creates friction, converting the car's kinetic energy into heat, and is part of the braking process facilitated by a hydraulic system using Pascal's principle.
Step-by-step explanation:
When the brakes are applied, the brake shoes or linings are pressed against the brake drums or rotors to create friction, which slows down the vehicle. This process is a conversion of the car's kinetic energy into heat due to friction, similar to heat generation when a book slides across a floor. The mechanism of a hydraulic brake system converts the force a driver applies to the brake pedal into increased pressure using Pascal's principle. This amplified force is transmitted through brake fluid to the wheel cylinders or calipers, pressing the brake pads against the rotors or shoes against the drums.
The effectiveness of this system can be demonstrated using a statics problem where a force of 100 N is applied to the brake pedal, subsequently generating a force of 500 N at the pedal cylinder. This pressure is then transmitted to the wheel cylinders with different diameters, and the force output at each wheel cylinder can be calculated.
For instance, in a case where the pedal cylinder has a diameter of 0.500 cm and the wheel cylinders each have a diameter of 2.50 cm, the enlarged area at the wheel cylinders results in a greater force output, ensuring that the vehicle can be stopped effectively when the brakes are applied.