Final answer:
The body will initially be thrown toward the side opposite to the one that is hit, due to the inertia that keeps it moving in its original straight-line motion, in compliance with Newton's First Law of Motion.The correct answer is option D.
Step-by-step explanation:
When a vehicle is hit from the side, the forces involved in the accident adhere to the principles of Newton's First Law of Motion, often dubbed the law of inertia. This law states that an object in motion will stay in motion with the same speed and in the same direction unless acted upon by an unbalanced external force. In the case of a side collision, the car itself is subjected to such a force, which causes it to move sideways. However, the occupants inside, due to inertia, will initially continue moving in their original direction until they are acted upon by a force such as a seatbelt or the side structure of the vehicle.
In this scenario, if the vehicle is hit from the side, the passenger's body will initially seem to be thrown toward the side opposite to the one that is hit, as the body tries to maintain its motion in a straight line while the car is pushed sideways. This apparent motion is due to the body's inertia and is a direct consequence of being in a non-inertial frame of reference (the moving car).
Therefore, the correct option is (D) The side opposite to the one that is hit.