ELI5: Explain Like I'm 5

Air brake (road vehicle)

Oh hello there! I'd love to tell you about air brakes in road vehicles! Have you ever noticed big trucks with pipes going from the wheels to the back of the truck? Those pipes are a part of the air brake system!

When you press the brake pedal in your car, that tells your brakes to activate and slow down or stop the car. But on bigger trucks, like big rigs or buses, the brakes are way stronger and need a lot more power to work. That's where air brakes come in!

Air brakes work with air pressure. There's a big tank of air on the truck that stores compressed air. When the driver of the truck wants to slow down or stop the vehicle, they push on a pedal called the brake pedal. This pedal is connected to a valve that allows air to flow from the tank into the brake system.

The air makes the brake pads clamp down on the wheels, slowing down or stopping the truck. This is why you see the pipes running from the wheels to the back of the truck - they carry the air that powers the brakes. Pretty cool, huh?

One of the benefits of air brakes is that they're really strong and reliable. Because they're powered by compressed air, they won't wear out as quickly as regular brakes. Plus, if there's a leak in the system, the brakes will automatically stop working, so the driver knows to pull over and get it fixed.

That's a basic rundown of how air brakes work on road vehicles. It's important to remember that they're only used on big trucks and buses - your regular car doesn't use them. But the next time you see a truck on the road, you can impress your friends with your knowledge of air brakes!