Hydraulic brakes in an automobile use a master cylinder connected by brake fluid to…
PHYSICS · Multi-part · CBSE · Physics · Mechanical Properties of Fluids · Mechanical Properties of Fluids
Problem
Hydraulic brakes in an automobile use a master cylinder connected by brake fluid to wheel cylinders at each wheel.
(i) Explain why, even if the wheel cylinders have different cross-sectional areas, the pressure of the brake fluid reaching each wheel is the same when the driver presses the brake pedal.
(ii) If the area of a particular wheel cylinder is doubled while all other factors remain unchanged, state qualitatively how the braking force at that wheel will be affected. Justify your answer.
(iii) Describe qualitatively how the presence of a small air bubble in the brake line would change the performance of the braking system, giving reasons for your answer.