Question

Explain in terms of impulse how padding reduces forces in a collision. State this in terms of a real example, such as the advantages of a carpeted vs. tile floor for a day care center.

Short answer

Padding reduces the effect of forces in a collision by increasing the time over which the force is acting or$∆t$ .

Step-by-step solution

Newton’s second law

From Newton’s second law (in terms of momentum), we have

$F_{ext}=\frac{\Delta p}{\Delta t}$

Or $\Delta p=F_{ext}\Delta t$

The above equation is known as the change in momentum or impulse of the system, where$∆t$ is the time over which the momentum is changing or time interval of contact and$F_{ext}$ is the external force acting on the object or system.

Or we can say that, Impulse = Net effective force × time interval of contact

Impulse is the effect of force that depends on how long its acts and how great the external force is.

Padding

Padding reduces the effect of force due to collision on the body because $∆t$is large or the time interval of contact is large.

Example

When a child in day-cares falls on the tile floor from a table, the effect of force is high due to which the body may damage. This is only because is very less. But this problem can be rectified by the usage of carpeted floors. When a child falls on the carpeted floor there will be compression and thus will be large and the effect of force will be small and thus the body will remain safe.