Airbags and rapid deceleration?

Question

So I read airbag sensors measure rapid deceleration, what does that mean exactly?

Does that mean that if you slam on the brakes the airbags will deploy even if you dont hit anything? That sounds a bit strange.

Answer 1

no, this would require the vcar to stop in about 2 - 3 yards, not like 100-120

Answer 2

Rapid deceleration, in this case means going from above 35MPH to a dead stop or close to a dead stop in 100ths of a second. You can't do that with the brake pedal.

Answer 3

No - slamming on your brakes won't do it.  It takes about 3-4 g's of deceleration to activate an airbag (a change in velocity of 16 mph in 200 ms - the rates vary by manufacturer).  The greatest deceleration you get in a modern vehicle is about 0.8 to 0.85 g (assuming anti-lock brakes on good pavement) and the deceleration time is much more prolonged.

Answer 4

No slamming on your brakes will not do this.............

Air bag system function begins with three sensors that first detect the rapid deceleration that occurs in a frontal impact.

The sensors are usually designed to react to an impact that generates more force than a 25 mph crash into a parked vehicle.

Two of the three sensors must trigger in order to activate the system.

It takes only approximately 0.01 seconds for the sensors to react, although this varies with the type of collision and vehicle speed.

Answer 5

No the airbags will only deploy if you collide with something going fast enough. Meaning that rapid deceleration means how fast it takes you to slow down. For example if you almost run a red light and slam on the brakes this would be fast deceleration and you might jolt forward. but if you hit a brick wall your airbags will deploy because you are going from lets say 35 mph to 0 in a short amount of time causing you to fly forward.