Car Crash Vocabulary

Inflatable plastic bag designed to cushion the driver and passengers in the event of a collision.

• Seat Belt

• Air Bag

• Crumple Zone

A strap in an automobile which is fastened around/ across a person to safely secure them in event of a collision.

• Seat Belt

• Air Bag

• Crumple Zone

The push or pull that accelerates a given mass in the direction in which it is applied

• Force

• Velocity

• Inertia

• Kinetic Energy

The rate of change of position; both speed and direction are required

• Force

• Velocity

• Inertia

• Kinetic Energy

The resistance of any physical object to any change in its state of motion.

• Force

• Velocity

• Inertia

• Kinetic Energy

Energy of an object due to its motion.

• Force

• Velocity

• Momentum

• Kinetic Energy

The quantity of motion of a moving body, measured as a product of its mass and velocity.

• Force

• Velocity

• Momentum

• Kinetic Energy

A structural feature designed to compress during an accident to absorb energy from an impact.

• Seat Belt

• Air Bag

• Crumple Zone