1.26P Momentum and safety features
Safety features reduce injury by increasing stopping time, which lowers the average force for the same momentum change during impact.
- Syllabus
- 2024
- Objective
- 1.26
- Level
- —
Exam analysis
Chance of appearing11%of analysed past papers
Latest appearanceJan 2023
Most common paperPaper2P
Typical marks1–3
Common command terms
- Identify
- Explain
Scoring notes
- Common mistake
- Saying a safety feature reduces momentum change when the evidence requires the same change over a longer time.
Recent exam appearances
Jan 2023Paper2PR [null] · TZ07(c)[ 2 ]1.26P Momentum and safety features
June 2022Paper2P [null] · TZ02(c)[ 3 ]1.26P Momentum and safety features
Jan 2022Paper2PR [null] · TZ02(b)[ 3 ]1.26P Momentum and safety features
Jan 2022Paper2P [null] · TZ01(b)(iv)[ 1 ]1.26P Momentum and safety features
Practice this objective
Coverage 2022–2023 · Updated 16 Jul 2026
1.26P Momentum and safety features
Use the idea of momentum to explain safety features
Concept essentials
- A collision involves a change in momentum.
- Increasing impact time reduces the rate of change of momentum.
- A smaller rate of change of momentum means a smaller average force.
- Airbags, padding, carpets and crumple zones reduce injury by lengthening the stopping process.
- Spreading force over a larger area can also reduce pressure on the body.