Question

If you are in an automobile accident with an initial speed of 120 km/h and are stopped by an airbag that inflates from the dashboard, over what distance must the airbag stop you for you to survive the crash?

Answer 1

Answer:

2.22 m

Explanation:

According to literature, the highest abrupt deceleration the human body can experience and survive in a car accident is 250 m/s²

Using the equations of motion,

v² = u² + 2as

v = final velocity of the body = 0 m/s

u = initial velocity of the body = 120 km/h = 120 × 1000/3600 = 33.33 m/s

a = - 250 m/s²

s = ?

0² = 33.33² - (2×250×s)

500s = 1111.1111

s = 2.22 m