i got an question in exam, it was asking about what does the air bag in car reduce when accident occur. Inertia or rate change of momentum?

Question

lgbasallote · Answer

i believe air bags "slow down" your speed before impact, yes?

anonymous · Answer

air bag supports the consequences of first law of motion...... 
i.e. upper part of our body wants to remain in its state and jerk forward and air bag prevent us to be injured.

ghazi · Answer

air bag reduces rate of change of momentum hence force another example of this is when we lower down our hands whilst catching something so if we reduce rate of change of momentum our force of impact will be reduced and hence injuries :)

anonymous · Answer

Hmm that what i think too, it lengthen the time of impact, but my friend found his books say it reduce inertia...

ghazi · Answer

inertia is a property that opposes change of state....what it has got to do with impact..if you are applying brakes you will be in motion no inertia can forbid you...so basically it's prolonged duration of impact that reduces force

ghazi · Answer

@hei  clear?

anonymous · Answer

ok

ghazi · Answer

:)

mayankdevnani · Answer

inertia reduces....  @hei

anonymous · Answer

Force is inversely proportional to time. When time increases, force decreases. If you have an airbag in accident, the tendency is for the time to decrease, so the force is lesser.

anonymous · Answer

*the time increases i mean :)) in my last sentence.