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Why does a speeding car skid when brakes are applied suddenly?

When brakes of a speeding car are applied suddenly there are two forces acting on the car:

1) Static Friction or Kinetic friction: Inertia of the car tends to keep it moving whereas the force of friction between tires and road resists the motion. This static friction is more when the objects is at rest and kinetic friction when the object is in motion. At the onset of braking static friction tries to prevent sliding.

2) Sliding Friction or Rolling Friction: When the force needed to maintain motion is more than the force of static friction, instead of sliding rolling begins. Thus sliding friction will act on wheels once the car starts sliding. Rolling friction is much lesser than sliding friction.

As the car's tires grip the road, the friction between them generates a force that opposes the car's motion. This force is called rolling resistance. As the car slows down, the rolling resistance decreases, but the car's inertia keeps it moving forward. This causes the wheels to lose traction and the car to skid.

Another factor when brakes are applied that contributes to skidding is weight transfer:

When brakes are suddenly applied, the car's weight is transferred from the rear to the front wheels. This weight transfer causes the front tires to dig into the road, while the rear tires lift up slightly, reducing their grip on the road.

To avoid skidding, it is important to brake gradually, allowing the weight of the car to transfer smoothly from the rear to the front wheels and giving the tires time to maintain traction with the road. Skidding can also be prevented by maintaining the proper tire pressure and avoiding sudden turns while braking.