Question

Football helmets are made with padding that helps reduce head injuries when a player collides with an object. Which best explains how the padding reduces injuries?

It extends the time of the collision.
It reduces the time of the collision.
It eliminates the reaction force of the object.
It eliminates the action force of the object.

Answer 1

It extends the time of the collision.

Explanation: Padding increases the collision time, so for the same change in momentum the average force is reduced (Impulse = Δp = F_avg · Δt). That smaller force reduces the chance/severity of injury. The other choices are incorrect—padding doesn't eliminate action/reaction forces, nor does it shorten the collision time.