Chapter 9- Natural Laws and Car Control

Question 1

active restraint device

Answer 1

a device you must engage, such as a safety belt

Question 2

blowout

Answer 2

when all the air escapes the tire at once

Question 3

braking distance

Answer 3

the distance your vehicle travels from the time you apply the brake until you stop

Question 4

center of gravity

Answer 4

the point around which an object’s weight is evenly distributed

Question 5

energy of motion

Answer 5

kinetic energy

Question 6

force of impact

Answer 6

the force with which a moving object hits another object

Question 7

friction

Answer 7

the force that acts between materials as they move past each other

Question 8

gravity

Answer 8

the force that pulls all things to Earth

Question 9

inertia

Answer 9

objects at rest tend to stay at rest and objects in motion tend to stay in motion unless acted on by an unbalanced force

Question 10

momentum

Answer 10

the inertia of an object in motion

Question 11

passive restraint device

Answer 11

a device that works automatically, such as an airbag

Question 12

perception distance

Answer 12

the distance your vehicle travels during your perception time

Question 13

perception time

Answer 13

the length of time it takes you to identify a hazard, predict a conflict, and decide to brake

Question 14

pitch

Answer 14

a tilting motion from front to back

Question 15

reaction distance

Answer 15

the distance your vehicle travels while you react

Question 16

reaction time

Answer 16

once you identify a hazard, the length of time it takes you to apply the brake

Question 17

total stopping distance

Answer 17

the distance your car travels from the time you first perceive a hazard until you stop

Question 18

traction

Answer 18

a form of friction; happens when tires roll over the surface of the road

Question 19

tread

Answer 19

the grooved surface of the tire

Question 20

vehicle balance

Answer 20

distribution of a vehicle’s weight on its tires as they contact the ground

Question 21

What is a vehicle’s energy of motion proportional to?

Answer 21

it’s weight and the square of its speed

Question 22

What does gravity affect?

Answer 22

driving up and down hills

Question 23

What must tires be to provide the most traction?

Answer 23

have good tread and be inflated properly

Question 24

What is a vehicle’s center of gravity affected by?

Answer 24

weight and load

Question 25

What is control in curves affected by?

Answer 25

speed, the sharpness of the curve, the shape of the roadway, and vehicle load

Question 26

What does total stopping distance include?

Answer 26

perception distance, reaction distance, and braking distance

Question 27

What is braking distance affected by?

Answer 27

the driver's ability to see and react, vehicle speed, condition of the vehicle and road surface, momentum, and vehicle load

Question 28

What is the force of impact determined by?

Answer 28

vehicle's speed and weight, and the time between impact and stopping

Question 29

What does the proper use of restraint devices do?

Answer 29

protect against injury in collisions

Question 30

What does the amount of momentum depend on?

Answer 30

the object's weight and speed

Question 31

A vehicle's energy of motion changes in proportion to the...

Answer 31

weight of the vehicle, and the square of its speed

Question 32

Traction is used to...

Answer 32

control speed, steer, and brake

Question 33

Footprint

Answer 33

the place where a tire tread touches the road

Question 34

What do the grooves in the tread do when it's raining?

Answer 34

water flows through the grooves in the tread and away from the tire, allowing the tire to grip the road

Question 35

What does tire size affect? What should you do?

Answer 35

affects tread and traction on the road; should check the owners manual for max tire size

Question 36

What will an uninflated tire do?

Answer 36

only grip with the outer edges, wear out quickly, accept less stress, and is more likely to heat up and fail

Question 37

What will an overinflated tire do?

Answer 37

only grip with the center of the tread and will wear out faster

Question 38

What will changing temperatures do for tire pressure?

Answer 38

cold weather decreases, hot weather increases

Question 39

What should you do for your tires regularly? When?

Answer 39

check the tire pressure but only before you've driven

Question 40

What will happen if the steering and braking requirements of traction exceed the amount available?

Answer 40

the vehicle will skid and you may lose control

Question 41

What does all-wheel drive mean?

Answer 41

all wheels have pulling power

Question 42

What are the three things that are required to have good traction?

Answer 42

1) vehicle has to be in good condition, 2) road surface must be smooth and clear, 3) your actions must maximize traction

Question 43

Traction and control will be reduced if you allow what to wear?

Answer 43

tires, shock absorbers, or parts of the steering system

Question 44

What are dangerous and could suffer a blowout?

Answer 44

bald tires

Question 45

What will worn shock absorbers do?

Answer 45

cause tires to bounce on a rough road

Question 46

When will traction be reduced?

Answer 46

when you drive on a gravel road or a road with snow or rain

Question 47

What will freeze first?

Answer 47

bridges and shaded areas

Question 48

What do you do when you see the road condition about to change?

Answer 48

slow down, test it, and if need be slow down even more

Question 49

How can you maximize traction?

Answer 49

steer, accelerate, and brake gently and smoothly

Question 50

When is the only time a vehicle is in complete balance?

Answer 50

when it is not moving

Question 51

When you balance something on your finger, where is your finger?

Answer 51

directly under the center of gravity

Question 52

Where is the center of gravity in a car?

Answer 52

more toward the front and wheels

Question 53

What type of cars tend to have a higher center of gravity?

Answer 53

SUVs, pickups, and vans

Question 54

What can raise the center of gravity?

Answer 54

carrying heavy cargo and installing large tires

Question 55

What do you do if you lose traction in your front tires from applying the brake?

Answer 55

don't accelerate or apply brakes, just look and steer toward your target

Question 56

Yaw

Answer 56

turn clockwise or counterclockwise

Question 57

When may your vehicle yaw?

Answer 57

when your rear vehicles lose traction

Question 58

What are the 3 common roadway shapes?

Answer 58

level, crowned, and banked

Question 59

Crowned surface pro and con

Answer 59

rain drains quick and easy, but you don't get as much traction on a curve

Question 60

What kind of roadway will help you overcome inertia on a turn?

Answer 60

banked with the outside raised, because gravity pulls you into the curve

Question 61

What should you do when stopping quickly?

Answer 61

1) perceive, 2) react, and 3) brake to a safe stop

Question 62

You should always be able to stop within...

Answer 62

the distance you can see ahead

Question 63

What is the average perception time for alert drivers?

Answer 63

3/4 of a second

Question 64

Perception time varies based on...

Answer 64

visibility, alertness, and your line of sight

Question 65

What factors affect braking distance?

Answer 65

driver ability, speed, vehicle condition, roadway surfact, hills, and vehicle weight

Question 66

What determines force of impact?

Answer 66

speed, weight, and time between initial impact and stopping distance

Question 67

Which has the higher force of impact- if you hit a wall of if you hit a bush

Answer 67

wall because you're going to be stopped completely then and there

Question 68

What do safety belts do?

Answer 68

distribute the force of impact to the strong areas of your body- the pelvis, shoulders, and chest

Question 69

Advanced airbags

Answer 69

airbags that deploy with the appropriate amount of speed based on sensors that collect information

Question 70

How far away from the hub of the steering wheel should you be?

Answer 70

10 inches

Question 71

Crush zone

Answer 71

the front and back of the vehicle that are designed to absorb impact

Question 72

What are bumpers designed for?

Answer 72

less than 5 mph of impact without damage

Question 73

Side impact panels

Answer 73

help absorb crash energy and reduce objects penetrating the passenger compartment