Final answer:
The air compressor governor controls when air is pumped into the tanks, necessary for maintaining correct air pressure in systems such as power brakes.
Step-by-step explanation:
The air compressor governor controls when air is pumped into the tanks. In automotive systems such as power brakes and in heavy machinery like bulldozers, a motorized pump is often engaged to carry out most of the work in the system. This process is essential for maintaining the correct air pressure within the system. When air is pumped into a tire or any such vessel, the pressure increases, this happens because compressing the gas into a smaller volume results in more frequent molecular collisions, thereby increasing pressure. How pressure, temperature, and volume of a gas relate to one another can be observed when air is pumped into a deflated tire. Initially, the volume increases significantly without a considerable change in pressure. However, once the tire reaches close to its full size, the walls restrict expansion and additional air results in increased pressure. The same principle applies to the governor on an air compressor system; it dictates when to pump air to maintain the proper pressure level within the system's tanks, contributing to the efficient functioning of the brakes or other pneumatic components.