Final answer:
The glass used in automobile windshields that features added strength from a plastic layer is known as laminated glass. It combines multiple glass layers with a plastic interlayer to enhance safety and prevent shattering.
Step-by-step explanation:
The type of glass that gains added strength from a layer of plastic inserted between two pieces of ordinary window glass and is used in automobile windshields is laminated glass. This glass is composed of two or more layers of glass bonded together with an interlayer, typically a layer of polyvinyl butyral or PVB. The combination of the plastic layer and the glass results in a safety feature where, if impacted, the glass may crack but will tend to remain held together by the plastic layer, preventing sharp pieces from detaching and reducing potential injury from flying glass shards.