. When a driver applies brakes to keep a car going downhill at constant speed and constant kinetic energy, the potential energy of the car decreases. Where does this energy go? Where does most of it appear in a hybrid vehicle?
The energy is converted to heat in from the friction of the brakes slowing the car down. It is released through the brake disks or brake drums.
While braking a hybrid vehical this energy is used to charge the reserve batteries for later use.
To the wheels
No, the energy is not transferred to the wheels. When the brakes are applied in a car, the brake pads create friction with the brake rotors or drums, which converts the kinetic energy of the moving car into heat energy. This heat energy is dissipated through the brake components and ultimately into the surrounding air. In a hybrid vehicle, a portion of this heat energy can be captured and converted into electrical energy using regenerative braking, which is then stored in the battery for future use.
When a driver applies brakes to keep a car going downhill at constant speed and constant kinetic energy, the potential energy of the car decreases. The decrease in potential energy is related to the car's change in height as it moves downhill.
The energy lost from the decrease in potential energy is typically converted into other forms of energy. In the case of braking, the majority of this energy appears as heat. This is because when the brakes are applied, friction is created between the brake pads and the rotors or drums, which converts the kinetic energy of the car into thermal energy.
In a conventional combustion engine vehicle, the heat energy produced during braking is mostly dissipated into the surrounding air. However, in a hybrid vehicle, the setup is slightly different. Hybrid vehicles have regenerative braking systems that can recover and convert some of the braking energy into electrical energy.
Here's how it typically works in a hybrid vehicle:
1. When the driver applies brakes, the system detects this and activates the regenerative braking.
2. The kinetic energy of the moving vehicle is converted into electrical energy by using the electric motors in reverse as generators.
3. The electrical energy generated is then stored in the vehicle's battery for later use.
4. The remaining braking energy that cannot be recovered is dissipated as heat through traditional braking systems.
By utilizing regenerative braking, hybrid vehicles can effectively recover and reuse some of the braking energy that would otherwise be wasted in conventional vehicles. This not only helps improve overall energy efficiency but also helps extend the range of the vehicle.