Final answer:
The safety features in a vehicle, like seat belts, work on the principles of impulse and momentum to protect occupants by reducing the force experienced during sudden stops. Loose objects, unaffected by these restraints, continue to move due to inertia, leading to events like 'smushcakes' when an abrupt stop is made.
Step-by-step explanation:
The concept behind the student's concern revolves around vehicular safety features, specifically the mechanics of seat belts and how they can prevent harm during sudden stops. Seat belts are designed to fasten a passenger securely to their seat, thereby reducing the risk of injury from moving uncontrollably within the vehicle during a collision. On the other hand, loose objects like cupcakes, as mentioned in the example, are subject to the laws of inertia and momentum—they will continue moving forward even as the car comes to a stop, hence the 'smushcakes' incident.
Additionally, the force exerted by a seat belt on a passenger during a collision can be calculated using the principles of impulse and momentum. For example, if a car crashes and stops in a short time, the seat belt provides the force necessary to decelerate the passenger safely. This force can be found by rearranging the impulse-momentum equation: Fnet = Δp / Δt, where Δp represents the change in momentum and Δt is the time over which the change occurs.