Final answer:
The motor vehicle impact sequence involves the initial vehicle impact, the human collision within the vehicle, and the internal collision of organs against the body. Safety features like airbags and crumple zones are designed to reduce the force by extending the impact duration.
Step-by-step explanation:
Impacts in the Motor Vehicle Impact Sequence
One significant aspect of vehicle safety design is the motor vehicle impact sequence, which involves various impacts a vehicle experiences during a collision. There are generally three key impacts in this sequence:
- The initial collision, which pertains to the vehicle hitting an object. This impact is largely absorbed by the vehicle's exterior and its crumple zones. The duration of the collision and the crumpling effect aid in decreasing the force exerted on the occupants.
- The human collision, which occurs when passengers hit the interior of the car, such as the dashboard or seat belts. The presence of safety features like airbags greatly increases the duration over which the stopping force acts, reducing the likeliness of severe injury.
- The internal collision, which can happen when internal organs hit the inside of the body or the skeletal system. Seat belts and airbags help to spread the force over a broader area and over a longer time, reducing the force's intensity and mitigating internal injuries.
Safety features like airbags, seat belts, and crumple zones all function to extend the time over which these impacts occur, thereby reducing the force and helping to protect vehicle occupants during crashes.