Q4-35DQ
Question
When a car is hit from behind, the occupants may experience whiplash. Use Newton’s laws of motion to explain what causes this result.
Step-by-Step Solution
Verified Answer
Passengers in a car which is suddenly hit from behind may experience a whiplash due to inertia of rest.
1Step 1: Concept of inertia of rest
A body in rest tends to be in rest unless an external force acts on it.
2Step 2: Reason for occupants experiencing a whiplash when the car is hit from behind
When a car is suddenly hit from behind it moves forward in a sudden motion. The body of the passengers tend to stay in their initial position due to inertia of rest. This causes the passengers to experience a whiplash.
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