The passenger keeps moving forward. Your body doesn't stop just because the car does. This is why people hit the dashboard or steering wheel.

Q2. How do car safety features help reduce the force during a crash?

Safety features like airbags reduce the force by giving you more time to stop. An airbag is soft and quickly cushions your body. Instead of stopping instantly on a hard surface, the airbag makes the stop take a fraction of a second longer. This small delay makes the crash force much lower.

Q3. Why are some parts of a car made to crumple in a crash (like the front and back)?

Those parts are made to break apart and crush. This crushing is called crumpling. When the car crumples, it makes the entire crash event take longer. The extra time and distance the car takes to stop saves the people inside because the massive force is spread out over that longer period.

Q4. If a car slows down before crashing, how does this affect the force on the body?

If the car slows down before hitting anything, the starting speed is lower. A lower starting speed means there is less energy to stop when the crash happens. The total force needed to stop the passenger's body is much less, which means a safer, less severe impact.