Final answer:
A 'space cushion' refers to a safe distance kept between vehicles to prevent accidents.
The concept of inertia and impulse, which is involved in the effectiveness of seat belts and airbags, is that increasing the time over which a collision or stop occurs reduces the force on vehicle occupants, improving safety.
Step-by-step explanation:
A space cushion is not a device, but rather a concept in driving which refers to maintaining a safe following distance between your vehicle and the vehicle in front of you. It is a buffer zone that gives you time and space to react to traffic conditions and avoid accidents. This is often taught in driver's education courses and is a key component of safe driving practices.
The situation described with cupcakes getting smashed against the dashboard during a sudden stop illustrates the principle of inertia and impulse. When the driver applied the brakes, the car stopped, but the cupcakes, which were in motion, continued moving forward until they collided with the dashboard, due to inertia. Seat belts and airbags are designed to extend the time over which a collision takes place, thereby reducing the force experienced by the occupants (impulse).
According to the principles of impulse, safety features in vehicles, like crumple zones and airbags, protect passengers by increasing the time over which a collision occurs, spreading out the force of impact (extended impact time). This slows down the momentum change and reduces the force on the occupant's body, lessening the chance of injury. This understanding of impulse and force distribution is key to modern automotive safety design.