In order to catch a ball, a baseball player extends the hand forward before impact with the ball and then lets it ride backward in the direction of the ball's motion upon impact. Doing this reduces the force of impact on the player's hand principally because the

Question

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Extending the hand forward and letting it ride backward upon impact increases the time over which the ball's momentum is brought to zero. According to the impulse-momentum theorem, the force experienced is equal to the change in momentum over the time it takes for that change to occur. By increasing the time of impact, the force experienced by the player's hand is reduced.

In Order to Catch a Ball, a Baseball Player Extends