Final answer:
To stop a car when skidding on a slippery road, you should apply a gentle pulsing action to the brake, which takes into consideration the relationship between static and kinetic friction. This method helps maintain control and avoid a skid by managing braking force.
Step-by-step explanation:
The correct answer is gentle pulsing action to the brake. When driving on a slippery road, it is essential to understand the relationship between static and kinetic friction. Static friction is the force that keeps the tires from slipping on the road when they are not in motion, but once the car is moving, kinetic friction comes into play.
When you apply the brakes too hard, the kinetic friction may not be sufficient to keep the tires rolling on the surface, potentially leading to a skid. To prevent this, a gentler application of the brake is recommended, which may involve a gentle pulsing technique known as threshold braking, where the driver alternately applies and releases pressure on the brake pedal to maintain control and maximize braking efficiency without locking the wheels.
This concept draws on the understanding that objects will continue to move until acted upon by another force, according to Galileo's principle. On a slippery surface like ice, resistance to motion is minimal, so an object—or a car—will travel a greater distance before coming to a stop. To safely decelerate and cease motion, one must carefully manage the braking force applied.