ELI5: Explain Like I'm 5

Counter-pressure brake

When you ride a bike or drive a car, you use brakes to stop. A counter-pressure brake is a type of brake used on some cars, planes, and trains. Just like regular brakes, it helps to slow down or stop the vehicle.

But, unlike regular brakes that work by pressing brake pads onto the wheels or tires, a counter-pressure brake works by pushing back against the power source that is making the wheels turn. This force causes the wheels to slow down, and thus the vehicle slows down.

The counter-pressure brake uses a special piston to push against the energy source that is driving the wheels, whether that's an engine or some other power source. When the brake pedal is pressed, the brake applies pressure to the energy source, which slows down the wheels.

This type of brake is especially useful for vehicles that need to slow down quickly and efficiently, such as planes landing on a short runway or trains coming to a stop at a station. The counter-pressure brake generates a lot of force, which makes it very effective in slowing a vehicle down.

So to sum it up, a counter-pressure brake slows down a vehicle by pushing back against the energy source that is making the wheels turn, instead of just pressing brake pads onto the wheels or tires.