Hydraulic brakes

• Is another example of hydraulic machines
• Pressure is applied on the brake pedal using the car driver’s foot

Car brakes. Image credit dtzone.com

• The pedal causes the piston in the master cylinder to compress the brake fluid
• This pressure is then passed on equally to larger pistons in the wheel cylinders
• This pressure forces the brake pads against the wheels
• The friction between the wheels and the pads stops the car
• The brake pedal is a lever
• There is a pivot between the effort force and the load force
• The lever changes the direction of the force on the brakes

To access more topics go to the Combined Science Notes page