Write this in your own words but keep it short

Air bags inflate when a sensor detects a front-end crash severe enough to trigger their deployment. The sensor sends an electric signal to start a chemical reaction that inflates the air bag with harmless nitrogen gas. All this happens faster than the blink of an eye.

1 answer

Air bags are activated by a sensor that detects a strong enough front-end collision. The sensor then initiates a quick chemical reaction that fills the air bag with safe nitrogen gas. This entire process happens in a split second.