SAE J609: Occupant Protection in Interior
Impact (100 Questions & Answers)
Section 1: Standard Overview and Scope
1. What does SAE J609 primarily establish?
a) Requirements for vehicle exhaust systems.
b) Test procedures for seat belt durability.
c) Requirements for occupant protection from interior impact.
d) Guidelines for vehicle paint thickness.
Answer: c) Requirements for occupant protection from interior impact. ✓
2. The requirements of J609 are intended to reduce the risk of excessive injury caused by
contact with the vehicle's...
a) Exterior surfaces.
b) Interior components during a collision.
c) Engine and transmission.
d) Tire and wheel assembly.
Answer: b) Interior components during a collision. ✓
3. SAE J609 is a standard relevant to which type of vehicle safety?
a) Active Safety
b) Pedestrian Safety
c) Passive Safety
d) Environmental Safety
Answer: c) Passive Safety ✓
4. The standard specifies performance requirements for the interior surfaces of which
vehicle area?
a) The entire vehicle cabin.
b) The engine compartment.
c) The trunk or cargo area.
d) The undercarriage.
Answer: a) The entire vehicle cabin. ✓
Section 2: Key Definitions and Terminology
5. What is the "Head Impact Area" as defined in J609?
a) The area on the exterior of the windshield.
, b) The area of the interior that may be contacted by the head of an occupant.
c) The area on the steering wheel hub.
d) The area of the seat back.
Answer: b) The area of the interior that may be contacted by the head of an occupant.
✓
6. The "Passenger Compartment" refers to the space for occupant accommodation,
bounded by the...
a) Roof, floor, and front bumper.
b) Roof, floor, sides, and toeboards.
c) Roof, doors, and engine firewall.
d) Seats, dashboard, and windows.
Answer: b) Roof, floor, sides, and toeboards. ✓
7. In the context of J609, an "Unacceptable Risk of Injury" is typically determined by
exceeding limits set for...
a) Deceleration (g-forces).
b) Head Injury Criterion (HIC).
c) Vehicle crush distance.
d) Seat belt webbing strength.
Answer: b) Head Injury Criterion (HIC). ✓
8. What does HIC stand for?
a) Head Impact Categorization
b) Hazardous Interior Contact
c) Head Injury Criterion
d) High-Intensity Collision
Answer: c) Head Injury Criterion ✓
9. The "Target Area" for testing is defined by the...
a) Entire windshield surface.
b) Specific zones on interior components identified for impact assessment.
c) Center of the steering wheel.
d) Top of the front seats.
Answer: b) Specific zones on interior components identified for impact assessment. ✓
10. A "Free Motion Headform" is used to simulate...
a) The movement of a pedestrian's head.
b) The head of a properly restrained occupant.
c) The head of an occupant not retained by a safety belt.
, d) The head of a child in a booster seat.
Answer: c) The head of an occupant not retained by a safety belt. ✓
Section 3: Test Procedures and Equipment
11. The primary test device used in J609 impact tests is a:
a) Hybrid III 50th Percentile Male Dummy.
b) Free Motion Headform.
c) Lateral Impact Dummy (BioSID).
d) Pedestrian Headform Impactor.
Answer: b) Free Motion Headform. ✓
12. The mass of the headform used in the test is typically:
a) 4.5 kg (10 lb)
b) 6.8 kg (15 lb)
c) 2.5 kg (5.5 lb)
d) 10 kg (22 lb)
Answer: b) 6.8 kg (15 lb) ✓
13. The headform is propelled towards the target area to simulate an impact. What is its
specified impact velocity?
a) 10 mph (4.5 m/s)
b) 15 mph (6.7 m/s)
c) 20 mph (8.9 m/s)
d) 25 mph (11.2 m/s)
Answer: b) 15 mph (6.7 m/s) ✓
14. The headform is guided during its travel to the target by a:
a) Flexible cable.
b) Pendulum arm.
c) Rigid guidance system.
d) Free-flight (unguided) propulsion.
Answer: b) Pendulum arm. ✓
15. What is measured during the impact to assess the severity?
a) The sound level produced by the impact.
b) The deformation of the headform.
c) The deceleration-time history of the headform.
d) The temperature rise of the component.
Answer: c) The deceleration-time history of the headform. ✓
, 16. The deceleration is measured in which direction?
a) Tangential to the impact surface.
b) Parallel to the direction of the headform's travel.
c) Vertically downward.
d) Laterally.
Answer: b) Parallel to the direction of the headform's travel. ✓
17. Data from the accelerometer is filtered using what class of filter?
a) High-Pass Filter
b) Band-Stop Filter
c) SAE J211/ISO 6487 Channel Frequency Class 1000
d) A simple averaging filter.
Answer: c) SAE J211/ISO 6487 Channel Frequency Class 1000 ✓
18. The test is conducted at what ambient temperature range?
a) 0°C to 5°C (32°F to 41°F)
b) 18°C to 26°C (64°F to 79°F)
c) 30°C to 40°C (86°F to 104°F)
d) Temperature is not a controlled factor.
Answer: b) 18°C to 26°C (64°F to 79°F) ✓
19. Before testing, the vehicle or component must be conditioned at the ambient
temperature for a minimum period, typically:
a) 1 hour
b) 4 hours
c) 8 hours
d) 24 hours
Answer: c) 8 hours ✓
20. The headform impactor must make contact with the target area within a specified
angle. This angle is:
a) 90° ± 1° to the tangent plane at the point of impact.
b) 45° ± 5° to the tangent plane at the point of impact.
c) 30° ± 3° to the tangent plane at the point of impact.
d) Any angle is acceptable as long as contact is made.
Answer: a) 90° ± 1° to the tangent plane at the point of impact. ✓
Section 4: Performance Criteria and Compliance
Impact (100 Questions & Answers)
Section 1: Standard Overview and Scope
1. What does SAE J609 primarily establish?
a) Requirements for vehicle exhaust systems.
b) Test procedures for seat belt durability.
c) Requirements for occupant protection from interior impact.
d) Guidelines for vehicle paint thickness.
Answer: c) Requirements for occupant protection from interior impact. ✓
2. The requirements of J609 are intended to reduce the risk of excessive injury caused by
contact with the vehicle's...
a) Exterior surfaces.
b) Interior components during a collision.
c) Engine and transmission.
d) Tire and wheel assembly.
Answer: b) Interior components during a collision. ✓
3. SAE J609 is a standard relevant to which type of vehicle safety?
a) Active Safety
b) Pedestrian Safety
c) Passive Safety
d) Environmental Safety
Answer: c) Passive Safety ✓
4. The standard specifies performance requirements for the interior surfaces of which
vehicle area?
a) The entire vehicle cabin.
b) The engine compartment.
c) The trunk or cargo area.
d) The undercarriage.
Answer: a) The entire vehicle cabin. ✓
Section 2: Key Definitions and Terminology
5. What is the "Head Impact Area" as defined in J609?
a) The area on the exterior of the windshield.
, b) The area of the interior that may be contacted by the head of an occupant.
c) The area on the steering wheel hub.
d) The area of the seat back.
Answer: b) The area of the interior that may be contacted by the head of an occupant.
✓
6. The "Passenger Compartment" refers to the space for occupant accommodation,
bounded by the...
a) Roof, floor, and front bumper.
b) Roof, floor, sides, and toeboards.
c) Roof, doors, and engine firewall.
d) Seats, dashboard, and windows.
Answer: b) Roof, floor, sides, and toeboards. ✓
7. In the context of J609, an "Unacceptable Risk of Injury" is typically determined by
exceeding limits set for...
a) Deceleration (g-forces).
b) Head Injury Criterion (HIC).
c) Vehicle crush distance.
d) Seat belt webbing strength.
Answer: b) Head Injury Criterion (HIC). ✓
8. What does HIC stand for?
a) Head Impact Categorization
b) Hazardous Interior Contact
c) Head Injury Criterion
d) High-Intensity Collision
Answer: c) Head Injury Criterion ✓
9. The "Target Area" for testing is defined by the...
a) Entire windshield surface.
b) Specific zones on interior components identified for impact assessment.
c) Center of the steering wheel.
d) Top of the front seats.
Answer: b) Specific zones on interior components identified for impact assessment. ✓
10. A "Free Motion Headform" is used to simulate...
a) The movement of a pedestrian's head.
b) The head of a properly restrained occupant.
c) The head of an occupant not retained by a safety belt.
, d) The head of a child in a booster seat.
Answer: c) The head of an occupant not retained by a safety belt. ✓
Section 3: Test Procedures and Equipment
11. The primary test device used in J609 impact tests is a:
a) Hybrid III 50th Percentile Male Dummy.
b) Free Motion Headform.
c) Lateral Impact Dummy (BioSID).
d) Pedestrian Headform Impactor.
Answer: b) Free Motion Headform. ✓
12. The mass of the headform used in the test is typically:
a) 4.5 kg (10 lb)
b) 6.8 kg (15 lb)
c) 2.5 kg (5.5 lb)
d) 10 kg (22 lb)
Answer: b) 6.8 kg (15 lb) ✓
13. The headform is propelled towards the target area to simulate an impact. What is its
specified impact velocity?
a) 10 mph (4.5 m/s)
b) 15 mph (6.7 m/s)
c) 20 mph (8.9 m/s)
d) 25 mph (11.2 m/s)
Answer: b) 15 mph (6.7 m/s) ✓
14. The headform is guided during its travel to the target by a:
a) Flexible cable.
b) Pendulum arm.
c) Rigid guidance system.
d) Free-flight (unguided) propulsion.
Answer: b) Pendulum arm. ✓
15. What is measured during the impact to assess the severity?
a) The sound level produced by the impact.
b) The deformation of the headform.
c) The deceleration-time history of the headform.
d) The temperature rise of the component.
Answer: c) The deceleration-time history of the headform. ✓
, 16. The deceleration is measured in which direction?
a) Tangential to the impact surface.
b) Parallel to the direction of the headform's travel.
c) Vertically downward.
d) Laterally.
Answer: b) Parallel to the direction of the headform's travel. ✓
17. Data from the accelerometer is filtered using what class of filter?
a) High-Pass Filter
b) Band-Stop Filter
c) SAE J211/ISO 6487 Channel Frequency Class 1000
d) A simple averaging filter.
Answer: c) SAE J211/ISO 6487 Channel Frequency Class 1000 ✓
18. The test is conducted at what ambient temperature range?
a) 0°C to 5°C (32°F to 41°F)
b) 18°C to 26°C (64°F to 79°F)
c) 30°C to 40°C (86°F to 104°F)
d) Temperature is not a controlled factor.
Answer: b) 18°C to 26°C (64°F to 79°F) ✓
19. Before testing, the vehicle or component must be conditioned at the ambient
temperature for a minimum period, typically:
a) 1 hour
b) 4 hours
c) 8 hours
d) 24 hours
Answer: c) 8 hours ✓
20. The headform impactor must make contact with the target area within a specified
angle. This angle is:
a) 90° ± 1° to the tangent plane at the point of impact.
b) 45° ± 5° to the tangent plane at the point of impact.
c) 30° ± 3° to the tangent plane at the point of impact.
d) Any angle is acceptable as long as contact is made.
Answer: a) 90° ± 1° to the tangent plane at the point of impact. ✓
Section 4: Performance Criteria and Compliance
