All mysteries
Mystery #3Tier 2-3forces / motion

Why do seatbelts and airbags save lives?

In a crash a seatbelt or airbag stops you just like hitting the dashboard would: you end up at the same standstill either way. So how can stopping the same person, from the same speed, be the difference between a bruise and a tragedy?

A fastened seatbelt buckle
Photo: Marek Ślusarczyk · CC BY 3.0 · via Wikimedia Commons

Your guess

What's your hunch about how a soft seatbelt or airbag protects you better than a hard dashboard, if you stop either way?

There's no single magic word to type, have a go in your own words, then reveal the answer to see how close you got.

Make a guess to unlock the hints and the answer.