When the rear wheels are jacked up and gears are in neutral, turning one rear wheel forward in a rear drive vehicle will cause the other wheel to, multiple choice question is given below:
Q. When the rear wheels are jacked up and gears are in neutral, turning one rear wheel forward in a rear drive vehicle will cause the other wheel to
(a) turn backward
(b) turn forward
(c) turn in either direction
(d)remain stationary
Download Sample: Automobile Engineering MCQ PDF 2nd Edition.pdf
Refresh the page if PDF preveiw shows error.
File Download : Automobile-engineering-MCQ-PDF-2nd-Edition.pdf @ 99 only.
Explanation
When the rear wheels are jacked up and the gears are in neutral, turning one rear wheel forward in a rear-drive vehicle will cause the other wheel to turn in the opposite direction. This phenomenon is known as the “open differential effect.”
In a typical rear-drive vehicle, the power from the engine is transmitted to the rear wheels through the drivetrain components, including the driveshaft, differential, and axle shafts. The differential is responsible for distributing power to the rear wheels while allowing them to rotate at different speeds during turns.
The differential contains a set of gears that allow the wheels to rotate at different speeds. In an open differential configuration, the gears distribute torque evenly between the two wheels when both are experiencing equal resistance. When one wheel encounters less resistance, such as when it is lifted off the ground or on a slippery surface, the open differential allows that wheel to rotate more freely.
As a result, when you manually turn one rear wheel forward, the open differential will transfer power to the wheel with less resistance, causing it to rotate in the opposite direction. This occurs because the differential gears distribute torque along the path of least resistance, which is the wheel with the lifted or less-loaded tire.
Conversely, in a limited-slip differential (LSD) or a locked differential configuration, both rear wheels would turn in the same direction, regardless of the wheel with less resistance. These differential types are commonly found in performance-oriented or off-road vehicles to provide better traction and power delivery in challenging conditions.
It is worth noting that this behavior is specific to rear-drive vehicles equipped with an open differential. Different types of drivetrains, such as front-wheel drive or all-wheel drive, may exhibit different behaviors due to their unique differential configurations.