Final answer:
Florida law requires all passengers in vehicles to use seat belts. The force during a collision is reduced by safety features like seat belts and airbags, which extend the force's impact time, thereby helping to prevent serious injuries.
Step-by-step explanation:
The state of Florida mandates that all motor vehicle passengers must be secured with a restraint system, such as seat belts. This requirement is designed to safeguard individuals from the potential consequences of traffic accidents. In a collision scenario, for instance, a car moving at 10 m/s that crashes into a tree and stops in 0.26 s would generate a significant amount of force. To calculate this force exerted by the seat belt on a 70 kg passenger, we use the formula F = (m × Δv) / Δt, where m is the mass, Δv is the change in velocity, and Δt is the change in time. The calculated force illustrates the importance of seat belts in reducing injuries by spreading the force over the body and minimizing impact.
The inclusion of airbags and padded dashboards in vehicles also contributes to this protective effect. If a car comprises plastic components that can crumple, the force during a collision is lessened, which decreases injury risk. These features are engineered to extend the time over which the force of impact acts, thereby reducing the net force that passengers experience.