How do car airbags work? What causes the airbags to inflate? Is there a super-fast air pump behind the steering wheel? You'll be able to answer all these questions and more with this simulation. If we tell you that a chemical reaction inflates the bags, you'll be amazed. Well, close your mouth and get ready, because with the CK-12 online platform, you'll learn the basic concepts of the airbag.
How Does the Simulation Work?
When you visit the webpage, you'll find a video that shows, from different angles, the chemical operation of the airbag. After watching the video, you'll see the three types of chemicals that, when mixed, will create the gas needed to inflate the bag.
Using a slider, you can add the amount of each product you want. At the bottom, the formula will display based on the amount you've set. Once you've added the quantities for each element, click the Play icon and watch the simulation. There you'll see if your airbag works. In our tests, we got different results; for example, once it exploded and didn't inflate completely.
At the top of the elements box, you'll find an icon that provides all the necessary information about the three chemicals (it's all in English).
CK-12 is a very good tool for learning how airbags work. With this environment, you'll see graphically how a bad combination of chemicals will make the bag explode (releasing excess gas), or make it not inflate enough (leaving part of the steering wheel exposed). CK-12 is a free web platform that works in all web browsers.
