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The airbag reduces the deceleration experienced on impact. In terms of acceleration, this means that the airbag has lowered the rate at which the downward acceleration decreases.

If a falling person hits solid ground then their velocity goes from high to zero almost instantaneously. This means that the downward acceleration has changed very quickly. The airbag increases the time in which it takes the velocity to fall to zero. This is the same as saying it reduces the deceleration.

Of course an airbag has the additional benefit of being soft relative to the ground, but simply considering acceleration/deceleration, reducing this lessens the harm done to the person. A high rate of acceleration/deceleration by itself can cause death/serious injury as a person's internal organs rupture due to the sudden collision with the other parts of the body (bones for instance). An airbag is helping by reducing the rate of change of the downward acceleration to a more survivable level. The force on the person is therefore lowered on "landing".

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Q: What does an air bag do to the acceleration of the person as they land compared to hard ground and how does this change the net force on the person as they land compared to hard ground?
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