Question

For years, crash test dummies have saved many lives. Crash test dummies are a model of the average human body, which allows companies to test the safety of their products. Most often, test dummies are used to test the safety of cars. The first test dummy was created in 1949. Its name was Sierra Sam, and it was used to test aircraft ejection. Before Sierra Sam, many tests were conducted with dead bodies, volunteers, and animals. Each of these had its own moral and safety issues. With the crash test dummy, researchers could test without harming anyone. In 1997, General Motors introduced the Hybrid III. It can tell researchers how the dummy is affected by an accident by providing valuable data. Crash test dummies make the lives of people safer with each test. The author organizes this passage by A. showing how testing aircraft ejections affects very large companies. B. defining the term crash test dummies and listing its characteristics. C. classifying the different types of General Motors crash test dummies. D. comparing crash test dummies to dead bodies, volunteers, and animals.

Answer 1

The concept of impulse, which includes increasing the duration of impact to reduce force, is leveraged in car design to enhance safety.

Airbags and crumple zones exemplify how extending collision time can reduce the force experienced by passengers, thus minimizing injuries.

Step-by-step explanation:

The concept of impulse is fundamental in reducing injuries during car accidents. One example of impulse in action is the airbag system in vehicles, which uses the idea that increasing the duration of the impact force (while keeping the change in momentum the same) will reduce the force exerted on the car's occupants, thereby reducing potential injuries.

In addition, the use of plastics and designs that allow cars to crumple upon collision also contributes to increased collision time, again resulting in less force on the occupants, further enhancing safety. These approaches to vehicle design demonstrate the practical applications of physics, specifically impulse, in engineering safety features that save lives.

For the multiple-choice question asking how parts that can crumple or collapse in the event of an accident help protect passengers, the correct answer is: (a) It reduces injury to the passengers by increasing the time of impact. This is because a longer collision time spreads out the force over a longer period, thereby lessening its intensity on the passengers.