Final answer:
The statement is true; using airbags in conjunction with seat belts offers superior safety protection by using the physics concept of impulse to increase the duration of impact, thus reducing the force on vehicle occupants.
Step-by-step explanation:
Safety protection:
True, airbags used with lap and shoulder belts offer the most effective safety protection for passenger vehicle occupants.Airbags and seat belts are critical safety features in vehicles that employ the principles of physics to save lives. The concept of impulse is central to understanding how these features work. Impulse is defined as the net force multiplied by the time over which the force acts, formally expressed as Δp = Fnet Δt. Airbags assist in reducing the force of impact during a collision by increasing the time over which the force is applied, even though the change in momentum, Δp, remains the same. By extending the time of impact, airbags lower the peak force exerted on the vehicle occupants. Similarly, when vehicles are engineered to crumple during a crash, they also increase the duration of the collision, further reducing the force experienced by the passengers. These design features, along with the restraint provided by seatbelts, form a comprehensive safety system that has been shown to significantly decrease the severity of injuries and fatalities in automobile accidents. Hence, the combination of airbags and seat belts is recognized as the most effective protection currently available.