Q36DQ

Question

In a head-on auto collision, passengers who are not wearing seat belts may be thrown through the windshield. Use Newton’s laws of motion to explain why this happens.

Step-by-Step Solution

Verified
Answer

Passengers not wearing seat belts will get thrown out through the windshield when a car collides because of inertia of motion.

1Step 1: Concept of inertia of motion

A body in motion tends to be in motion unless an external force acts on it.

2Step 2: Reason for passengers not wearing seat belts getting thrown out of windshields on collision

On collision, a moving car suddenly stops. The bodies of the passengers tend to keep moving due to inertia of motion. Thus, if they are not stopped using seat belts, they will get thrown out through the windshields.