Final answer:
Airbags are designed to deploy in a collision and provide protection by reducing the force on occupants with the help of rapid inflation, which increases the collision time.
Step-by-step explanation:
An airbag is designed to deploy when a collision is detected by sensors in the vehicle, to minimize serious injuries to passengers. In the event of a collision, the airbags provide a cushioning effect by rapidly inflating with gas produced by the deployment mechanism, commonly involving the decomposition of sodium azide, NaN3. This process happens in milliseconds, and it allows for the net force acting on the occupants to be spread over a longer period of time. The momentum change experienced by an occupant during a collision is the same regardless of the airbag; however, the force exerted on them is significantly reduced due to the increased collision time provided by the airbag. Safety features like airbags and seat belts are crucial for vehicle occupant protection during sudden stops.