Lesson 1/Learning Event 1
BRAKING REQUIREMENTS
FIGURE 2. BRAKING REQUIREMENTS.
Most of us know that to increase a vehicle's speed requires an
increase in the power output of the engine. It is just as true that
an increase in speed requires an increase in the braking action
necessary to bring a vehicle to a stop. Brakes must not only be able
to stop a vehicle, but must stop it in as short a distance as
possible. Because brakes are expected to decelerate (slow down) a
vehicle at a faster rate than the engine can accelerate it, they must
be able to control a greater power than that developed by the engine.
This is the reason that welldesigned, powerful brakes have to be
used to control the modern highspeed motor vehicle. The time needed
to stop is oneeighth the time needed to accelerate from a standing
start. The brakes then can handle eight times the power developed by
the engine.
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