An unseatbelted driver can be injured by the steering weel during a head on collision. Why does the driver hit the steering wheel when the car suddenly comes to a stop?
2007-01-24 05:26:57 · 2 answers · asked by Yarka 1 in Science & Mathematics ➔ Physics
inertia causes the driver to continue on the original trajectory. The only thing to change his path/trajectory would be a seatbelt (if on), steering wheel, or windshield.
2007-01-24 05:32:07 · answer #1 · answered by sedition_4_2_0 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Inertia. A body in motion keeps on moving until a force brings it to a stop. In this case, the strength of the driver's arms is too weak to keep the mass of the body from hitting the wheel.. For this reason, modern steering columns have a collapsing section so it does not act like a spear and the center is padded and also holds the air bag.
2007-01-24 05:32:53 · answer #2 · answered by Mike1942f 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋