the question is this:

suppose you want to design an air-bag system that can protect the driver in an head-on collision at a speed of 100 km/h. estimate how fast the airbag must inflate to protect the driver-- I GOT THE CORRECT ANSWER TO THIS ONE ALREADY. now the second question is--
assume the car crumples over a distance of about 1 meter. How does the use of a seatbelt help the driver? --- Can someone plz tell me what this one would be? Im lost? Btw, I appreciate any help, thanx. =)

There is no single law to quote that explains why it is important to wear a seat belt even when an air bag is present. It is a question of keeping the person behind the air bag and distibuting the decelerating force between the seat belt and the air bag.

Without the seat belt, the air bag must exert almost all of the force on the driver to decelerate him/her. Without a seat belt, the driver will have a higher force exerted on his/her head, may hit the windshield, or be thrown to an area that is not protected by the air bag.

this answer is correct but i need the mathematical law needed to solve this problem.

To answer the question of how the use of a seatbelt helps the driver when the car crumples over a distance of about 1 meter, we need to understand the purpose and function of a seatbelt.

The primary function of a seatbelt is to restrain the occupant in the event of a collision or sudden deceleration. When a car crashes or experiences a sudden change in speed, an unrestrained occupant will continue moving forward at the same speed the vehicle was traveling before the impact. This could result in the occupant colliding with the vehicle's interior or being ejected from the vehicle, causing serious injury or even death.

Here's how the use of a seatbelt helps the driver in this scenario:

1. Restrains the driver's body: When the car crumples over a distance of about 1 meter, the seatbelt restricts the driver's forward movement. It holds the driver firmly against the seat, preventing them from being thrown forward and colliding with the vehicle's interior components like the steering wheel, dashboard, or windshield.

2. Distributes the forces: During a high-speed impact, the forces exerted on the driver can be immense. The seatbelt distributes these forces over a larger area of the driver's body, particularly the chest and pelvis, which are better able to withstand the impact compared to more vulnerable areas like the head or neck.

3. Slows down the deceleration: In a collision, the vehicle's rapid deceleration can cause serious injury to the occupants. By restraining the driver, the seatbelt allows the body to decelerate over a longer period of time, reducing the severity of the impact and minimizing the risk of injury.

4. Prevents ejection: The seatbelt helps to keep the driver inside the vehicle. In the event of a severe collision or rollover, having the seatbelt securely fastened significantly reduces the chances of being ejected from the car, which can be incredibly dangerous or even fatal.

Overall, the use of a seatbelt is crucial because it helps protect the driver by restraining their body, distributing forces, slowing down deceleration, and preventing ejection during a crash or sudden deceleration event.