Seatbelts & the Laws of Motion
The 15th century physicist Issac Newton didn't realize he was going to change the way people would perceive safety issues in vehicles, but the laws of motion he formulated are certainly ingrained in how seat belts work.
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Seat Belts and Newton's First Law
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According to Newton, a body at rest will move in a straight line, unless the trajectory of that body is changed by an external force. So if you hit a car at an angle, your body will move at an angle from your original direction. If you don't have your seat belt locked, you're going to fly across the inside of the car at an angle.
Seat Belts and Newton's Second Law
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Newton says that, "Force is equal to the change in momentum per change in time." In other words, if an unrestrained body moves inside a car, the ultimate force of the impact will be greater the longer the body is in motion. All things equal, therefore, if an unrestrained body flies across the inside of an SUV, the force of the ultimate impact will be worse than the impact experienced inside a compact car. This is because of the inside volume of the SUV will be greater.
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Seat Belts and Newton's Third Law
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Of all of Newton's laws, this one is most understood by nearly everyone; "For every action, there is an equal and opposite reaction." So, if you are sitting in a car without your seat belt locked, and someone rear-ends you, the result will be that you'll likely hit the dashboard or windshield at speed.
Even with Seat Belts
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All of Newton's laws will still apply even with seat belts locked, however. For example, in the case of third law, with the belt on, the body will bend at the waist and begin to extend forward. So, if you have the belts too loose, you are still likely to hit the dashboard, but at least you won't hit the windshield.
Click It or Ticket
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Even if you don't like the fact that belts are being mandated nationally, take a minute and think about Newton's three laws and click it. It'll be worth your time.
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