Question

A goalkeeper in a game of football pulls his hands backwards after holding the ball shot at the goal. This enables the goal keeper to:

• A. exert larger force on the ball.
• B. reduce the force exerted by the ball on hands.
• C. increase the rate of change of momentum of the ball.
• D. decrease the rate of change of momentum of the ball.

Answer 1

Answer: (B), (D)

reduce the force exerted by the ball on hands.
decrease the rate of change of momentum of the ball.

A large force that acts in a very short duration of time is referred to as impulsive force. This force which is large due to a high speed such as a kick of a football may be disastrous as the momentum change is large and hence a goalkeeper holds his hand backwards in order to reduce the force exerted on his hands