braking question

[spdracer@mail.utexas.edu]

> I have been told enough times by people whose intelligence I respect that
> a car achieves its best braking performance NOT when the wheels are locked
> up, but at some point before that. I have never understood this.

You guys are forgetting one thing from physics... static friction compared to
kinetic(sliding) friction.  Static friction is always higher than kinetic
friction.  When you lock up the brakes, the tires are now sliding instead of
sticking (static) and therefore have less friction which means it'll take
longer to stop.  That's why cars have ABS.

Khiem