A car initially traveling at 16 m/s undergoes braking and comes to a complete stop in two seconds. During the braking an 80-kg passenger, sitting on a smooth and flat seat, exerts how much force on the seat belt?
A) 640 N
B) 800 N
C) 980 N
D) 1300 N

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The force exerted on the seat belt can be calculated using Newton's second law, $F = ma$, where $m$ is the mass of the passenger and $a$ is the acceleration (or deceleration in this case). First, we find the deceleration: the change in velocity ($\Delta v$) is 16 m/s (from 16 m/s to 0 m/s), and the time ($t$) is 2 seconds, so $a = \Delta v / t = 16 \, \text{m/s} / 2 \, \text{s} = 8 \, \text{m/s}^2$. Then, the force is $F = ma = 80 \, \text{kg} \times 8 \, \text{m/s}^2 = 640 \, \text{N}$.

A Car Initially Traveling at 16 M/s Undergoes Braking and Comes