Braking System Purpose

The braking system is designed to decrease the speed of a vehicle using kinetic (in motion) friction and keep it from rolling when stopped using static (at rest) friction. Friction is the force that resists motion between two touching objects. Friction between brake components slows or stops a vehicle by transferring the energy of motion (kinetic energy) to heat (thermal energy). This heat must be dissipated by the brake system into the air. Unlike the lubrication system, where minimizing friction is the goal, the braking system is designed to use friction for control.