Unit 3 : The Effect of Natural Forces on your Vehicle
What is kinetic energy?
The energy something possesses because it is in motion
What is potential energy?
The energy that an object possesses because of its position or form
What is momentum?
The force of a moving object
What happens when you are driving downhill?
The force of gravity is with you and it speeds you up and increase your stopping distance
What happens when you are driving uphill?
The force of gravity is working against you and it slows you down
What is gravity?
The force that pulls all objects to the center of the earth
What is proportional to an object's weight and speed?
The object's momentum
What is traction?
The result of friction between the road and your tires
If two cars moving at the same rate of speed crash, which vehicle gets the greater impact?
The smaller vehicle
What does wearing a seat belt while driving do?
In a collision, it will stop the forward momentum of your body and prevent you from hitting the wind shield, steering wheel and other things
When is kinetic energy absorbed in the brakes or other friction?
In a controlled stop
When is kinetic energy absorbed in your body, the vehicle, and other objects?
In a crash
When will the forces that stop your car be greatest in a crash?
A head-on collision with another object or large stationary object
What can the impact of a train against a vehicle be compared to?
A vehicle against an aluminum can
What might you need to do when driving uphill?
Accelerate or change to a lower gear
What should you do in case your parking brake fails?
Always turn your front wheels away from the traffic lane
What does breaking a stop do?
Converts kinetic energy into heat energy through friction
When driving uphill, what does gravity do to your kinetic energy?
Decreases kinetic energy
What happens when you are parked on an incline?
Gravity works to pull your vehicle downhill
What natural forces act on your vehicle?
Gravity, inertia, momentum, kinetic and potential energy, friction, and centrifugal force
When driving downhill, what does gravity do to your kinetic energy?
Increases kinetic energy
What happens when your vehicle stops suddenly?
Inertia causes your body and loose objects to keep moving forward
What keeps your vehicle moving?
Inertia, unless acted on by brakes, road surface, fixed objects, etc.
What should you do to keep your vehicle from rolling away?
Leave your vehicle in low gear, put in in park, or maybe even place an object behind your wheels
What is the Law of Inertia?
Objects that are moving tend to continue moving, objects at rest tend to remain at rest, unless acted on by some other force
What does doubling your speed do to the kinetic energy?
Quadruples the kinetic energy
What might you need to do when driving downhill?
Shift to a lower gear or smoothly apply your breaks to slow to a safe speed
What should you do if you are parking downhill?
Turn your front wheels towards the curb or side of the road
What should you do if you are parking uphill?
Turn your front wheels towards the middle of the road so they roll into the curb
What happens as you increase your driving speed?
Your body and your vehicle acquire kinetic energy
What is the best protection against an injury in an accident?
Your seat belt
What can gravity affect
Your speed of travel when going uphill and downhill
