Answer: Seat belts and air bags save lives by reducing the | StudySoup

Textbook Solutions for Physics for Scientists and Engineers: A Strategic Approach, Standard Edition (Chs 1-36)

Chapter 6 Problem 6.81

Question

Seat belts and air bags save lives by reducing the forces exerted on the driver and passengers in an automobile collision. Cars are designed with a crumple zone in the front of the car. In the event of an impact, the passenger compartment decelerates over a distance of about 1 m as the front of the car crumples. An occupant restrained by seat belts and air bags decelerates with the car. By contrast, an unrestrained occupant keeps moving forward with no loss of speed (Newtons first law!) until hitting the dashboard or windshield. These are unyielding surfaces, and the unfortunate occupant then decelerates over a distance of only about 5 mm. a. A 60 kg person is in a head-on collision. The cars speed at impact is 15 m/s. Estimate the net force on the person if he or she is wearing a seat belt and if the air bag deploys. b. Estimate the net force that ultimately stops the person if he or she is not restrained by a seat belt or air bag

Solution

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The first step in solving 6 problem number 81 trying to solve the problem we have to refer to the textbook question: Seat belts and air bags save lives by reducing the forces exerted on the driver and passengers in an automobile collision. Cars are designed with a crumple zone in the front of the car. In the event of an impact, the passenger compartment decelerates over a distance of about 1 m as the front of the car crumples. An occupant restrained by seat belts and air bags decelerates with the car. By contrast, an unrestrained occupant keeps moving forward with no loss of speed (Newtons first law!) until hitting the dashboard or windshield. These are unyielding surfaces, and the unfortunate occupant then decelerates over a distance of only about 5 mm. a. A 60 kg person is in a head-on collision. The cars speed at impact is 15 m/s. Estimate the net force on the person if he or she is wearing a seat belt and if the air bag deploys. b. Estimate the net force that ultimately stops the person if he or she is not restrained by a seat belt or air bag
From the textbook chapter Dynamics I: Motion Along a Line you will find a few key concepts needed to solve this.

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Title Physics for Scientists and Engineers: A Strategic Approach, Standard Edition (Chs 1-36) 4 
Author Randall D. Knight (Professor Emeritus)
ISBN 9780134081496

Answer: Seat belts and air bags save lives by reducing the

Chapter 6 textbook questions

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