How do the pedals work on a plane?

Question

Q: How do the pedals work on a plane?

Answer

A: How the foot pedals are used can be a little different depending on aeroplane design. So how it works on a small private aeroplane (Cessna 172) is different than to a commercial aeroplane (Boeing 737).This is usually the case though. Rudder pedals control both the nose wheel and the rudder, when the aeroplane is on the ground. The primary way of directional control on the ground is by turning the nose wheel, which is controlled by using the rudder pedals. Push the left rudder pedal down and the aeroplane turns left. The aeroplane may also have another way of controlling the nose wheel for sharp turns. On some aeroplanes this is called a nose wheel tiller. Differential braking or if multiengine, differential thrust can be us used to assist turning. Differential trust is where one engine is producing more thrust than the other side and differential braking is where brakes on one side is used more than the other side. While taxiing, aeroplane brakes are activated when the pilot puts pressure on the top part of the rudder pedals. During the landing larger aeroplanes usually make use of autobrake systems and when the plane is at a lower speed, the pilot takes over with manual braking via the rudder pedals.
When the aeroplane gets airborne the control of the nose wheel is usually disconnected.
As the aeroplane increases speed airborne large inputs of any control surfaces are rarely desired. Usually aircraft design includes systems to prevent this. Many aeroplanes have auto rudder systems that relieves the pilot from the task of using the rudder pedals, when airborne.