When vehicle wheels are about to lock, the ABS senses the Impending lock up and prevents this from occurring.
a) True
b) False
The correct answer and explanation is:
The correct answer is a) True.
Anti-lock Braking Systems (ABS) are designed to prevent a vehicle’s wheels from locking up during braking, especially in emergency or slippery conditions. When a driver applies the brakes heavily, the ABS monitors the wheel speed and detects if any of the wheels are about to lock up, which happens when the wheel’s rotational speed decreases drastically or stops. When ABS senses this impending lock-up, it automatically modulates brake pressure by rapidly pulsing the brakes on and off. This allows the wheels to maintain traction with the road surface, improving control and stability.
ABS works through sensors placed on each wheel. These sensors detect the rotational speed of the wheels and relay this information to the ABS control module. If a wheel is rotating too slowly compared to the others, indicating that it is about to lock up, the ABS system intervenes. It decreases brake pressure on that wheel and, once it detects the wheel regaining traction, increases the brake pressure again. This rapid modulation of brake force is often felt by the driver as a pulsating sensation in the brake pedal.
This system is particularly useful on slippery surfaces like wet, icy, or gravel roads, where the likelihood of a wheel locking up is higher. Without ABS, a driver might not be able to regain control after a lock-up, potentially leading to a loss of steering ability and an increased risk of skidding or accidents. By preventing wheel lock-up, ABS helps maintain the vehicle’s steering control, reducing the risk of a crash and improving overall safety during braking.