How do air bags work (in vehicles)?

Question

Links to websites, but keep explanations short..

cheers xx

Answer 1

Airbags deploy only when they might be needed to prevent serious injury.

Frontal driver and passenger airbags are designed to inflate in moderate to severe frontal crashes equivalent to hitting a solid barrier at 10-12 mph.

Some manufacturers use different inflation thresholds depending on whether people are using their safety belts.

Thresholds of 10-12 mph typically are used for unbelted occupants, but thresholds are higher — about 16 mph — for belted occupants because the belts alone are likely to provide adequate protection up to these moderate speeds.

Answer 2

http://www.howstuffworks.com/airbag.htm

Hope that helped =)

Answer 3

Crash...BANG!!... soft landing.... call the cops. Or go to howstuffworks.com for a good explanation like the other person mentioned.