Heavy earth-moving machinery like bulldozers run on wide continuous steel tracks (caterpillar tracks) rather…

Heavy earth-moving machinery like bulldozers run on wide continuous steel tracks (caterpillar tracks) rather than narrow wheels. Why?
  1. To increase the speed on paved roads
  2. To increase surface area and lower the pressure on soft soil
  3. To reduce the total weight of the machine
  4. To reduce gravity acting under the tracks

Solution

Wide tracks increase the contact surface area, which reduces pressure ($P = F/A$) and prevents the heavy machine from sinking into mud.

Asked in: Homi Bhabha Practice

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