Question

1. which of newton’s laws explains why seatbelts are crucial in a car crash? a. newton’s third law of motion b. newton’s second law of motion c. newton’s first law of motion d. newton’s law of universal gravitation

Explanation:

Newton's First Law (Law of Inertia) states that an object in motion will stay in motion with the same velocity unless acted upon by a net external force. In a car crash, the car stops suddenly (due to external force like impact), but the passengers inside tend to continue moving forward at the car's original speed (inertia). Seatbelts apply a force to stop the passengers' forward motion, preventing injury. Newton's Third Law is about action - reaction pairs, Second Law is about $F = ma$, and Law of Universal Gravitation is about gravitational force between masses, so they don't explain the seatbelt's role here.

Answer:

C. Newton’s First Law of Motion