Question

When a car stops suddenly by applying force, why do the passengers sitting in it lean forward?

Answer 1

1. When a car stops suddenly by applying force, passengers sitting in it lean forward because of inertia.
2. Inertia: Inertia is a property of a body of mass m by virtue of which it resists any change in its state of rest or state of motion.
3. Passengers in a moving car are moving with the velocity of the car. When the car stops suddenly it comes to rest and therefore lower part of the body which is in direct contact with the car also comes to rest.
4. On the other hand, the upper part of the body still moving with the same velocity and due to inertia, it tends to continue the same motion.
5. Hence lower part of the body remains behind and we lean forward.