Car suspension

A car suspension is the system of springs, dampers, and linkages between a vehicle’s body and wheels. It supports the vehicle, absorbs road shocks, and helps keep the tires in contact with the road.

Coil spring: A helical spring that stores mechanical energy when compressed or extended. It supports the car’s weight and compresses as a wheel encounters a bump.
Hooke's law: A physical relation stating that an ideal spring’s restoring force is proportional to its displacement. It approximates how a suspension spring responds to small changes in compression.
MacPherson strut: A front suspension layout combining a telescoping damper and spring with a structural strut and lower link. It is a common compact layout that combines wheel guidance and springing.
Rigid axle: An axle design that mechanically connects the left and right wheels across a vehicle. Unlike independent layouts, movement at one wheel directly affects the other.
Shock absorber: A device that dissipates mechanical energy to limit oscillation in a spring-supported system. It controls the bouncing that suspension springs would otherwise sustain.
Damping: The reduction of oscillation through energy dissipation in a dynamic system. Suspension dampers use it to settle wheel and body motion.
Double wishbone suspension: A suspension design that locates a wheel with upper and lower control arms. Its paired arms allow designers to control wheel movement and alignment.
Independent suspension: A suspension arrangement in which each wheel can move vertically with limited direct effect on the opposite wheel. It contrasts with rigid axles by allowing more independent wheel travel.
Control arm: A suspension link that connects a wheel assembly to a vehicle’s frame or body while guiding its movement. Its pivots guide wheel travel as the suspension moves.
Unsprung mass: The mass of vehicle components that move substantially with the wheels rather than the body. Its size affects how readily wheels follow uneven road surfaces.

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