Question

Why do we tend to fall forward when a car stops suddenly?

Answer 1

Hint: Inertia is defined as a natural phenomenon in which a body or matter tends to remain in the state of rest or in the state of uniform motion in which it remains. When there is an alternation in its state at which the body or matter is then there will be an reaction.

Complete step by step answer:
A property of matter by which it remains to exist in its state of rest or of uniform motion unless and until an external force works on it is known as inertia.
Now, let us discuss why we tend to fall forward when a car stops suddenly.
It is due to the inertia of motion. When we are in a car we are actually in motion. So, our whole body is actually in motion with the car. When a car just stops suddenly our lower body sometimes copes up with the motion change. But our upper body tends to remain in the state of motion due to inertia of the body. Thus, it does not cope up with the motion change and hence falls forward while a car stops due to the inertia of the body.

Additional information: It can be also seen that when we are in a car which just starts moving from its state of rest we fall backwards. This also occurs due to the inertia of rest. Our body tends to remain in the state of rest, but suddenly when the car starts moving we fall backwards.

Note: The principle of inertia was mentioned in Newton's First Law of Motion where it stated that a body will continue to move with constant velocity unless an external agency or force tends to stop its motion. On the surface of Earth inertia is masked by gravity, friction and air resistance mainly.