Scaling a Braking System— Suppose that after years of experience, your auto company has designed an optimum braking system for its prestigious full-sized car. That is, the distance required to brake the car is the best in its weight class, and the occupants feel the system is very smooth. Your rm has decided to build cars in the lighter weight classes.
Discuss how you would scale the braking system of your current car to have the same performance in the smaller versions. Be sure to consider the hydraulic system and the size of the brake pads. Would a simple geometric similarity sufce? Let's suppose that the wheels are scaled in such a manner that the pressure (at rest) on the tires is constant in all car models. Would the brake pads seem proportionally larger or smaller in the scaled-down cars?