Question

A car is moving at a constant speed on a straight road. Suddenly, the driver slams on the brakes. According to Newton's laws of motion, what happens to the passengers in the car?

Answer 1

According to Newton's laws of motion, when the driver slams on the brakes, the passengers in the car would tend to remain in their state of motion. This means that they would continue moving forward at the car's original speed until an external force acts on them.

When the brakes are applied, a frictional force is generated between the tires and the road, which acts in the opposite direction of the car's motion. This force slows down the car and allows it to come to a stop. However, due to inertia, the passengers continue moving forward at the car's original speed until they are acted upon by an internal force, such as a seatbelt or an external force, such as hitting the dashboard or the seat in front of them.

Without any external force or safety measures, the passengers would experience a sudden forward jerking motion as the car decelerates. This can lead to injuries, such as whiplash, if the passengers are not properly restrained or if the braking force is too strong. Therefore, it is important for passengers to always wear seat belts to help minimize the impact and ensure their safety during sudden stops.