A windshield is the front window of a vehicle, such as a car, truck, bus, motorcycle, airplane or train. The glass protects people from the elements during travel and helps preserve the internal temperature of a vehicle. Windshields also help support the roof of some vehicles and can serve a critical role in rollover accidents.
Glass
Windshields are generally made out of "laminated safety glass," a sealed combination of two pieces of glass with a layer of vinyl encased in between. Some windshields are designed to be more lightweight while maintaining a high impact quality, such as the acrylic plastic found on motorcycles. Other windshields need to withstand high levels of pressure, such as those found on submarines and space shuttles, and are made out of reinforced polycarbonate.
Frame
A windshield is held in place by a metal piece of trim, a sticky seal, metal clips and a plastic or metal molding. This frame sits within the core structure of the vehicle and ensures that the glass doesn't slip or vibrate out of place.
Wiper
Although the wiper is not attached to the windshield, it serves a key role in keeping the glass clean. The arm, blade and motor work together to sweep the windshield in an oscillating arc. When the blades wear out or the arm doesn't correctly press against the glass, streaks will form on the windshield that can limit visibility.
