Brakes Project/Lab Ideas

Have students demonstrate their knowledge of the relationship of force, pressure, and surface area.  Students will use these relationships to describe the chain of events of stepping on the brake pedal, effect on power booster, effect on master cylinder, effect on brake cylinder, effect on brake pad, and stopping the vehicle.  Students can use manufacturer’s data in their formulas to verify the effect.

Have students work in teams to develop an understanding of how changes in vehicle weight, tire size, and velocity can affect the stopping distance of a moving vehicle.