The function of the braking system is to slow down the vehicle or stop it as short as possible whenever it is needed. By applying the brakes, the vehicle can remain on the inclined surface against the pull of gravity. Brakes are mechanical devices used to increase frictional resistance, which delay the steering movement of the wheels. It either absorbs kinetic energy, or potential energy, or both, while maintaining motion. The absorbed energy appears in the form of heat. When driving on steep slopes, the vehicle is controlled by the brakes. In this case, the brake acts for a long time, so it is necessary to release the braking heat to the atmosphere as soon as possible.
Cars are equipped with two brakes; service or foot brakes and emergency or hand brakes. The foot brake is used to control the speed of the vehicle and stops at the desired time and place by applying a force on the brake pedal. Handbrake is leveraged to prevent the vehicle from moving while parked. Hand brakes are called emergency brakes because they are applied when the service brake fails. Virtually all vehicles are now devices with four-wheel brakes. The front brake needs to be operated without disturbing the steering action.
Brakes need to be able to slow the vehicle faster than the engine can accelerate. Generally, a brake needs to absorb three times the horsepower energy of its equivalent form.
