Question

While catching a fast-moving cricket ball, we pull our hands back why?, explain on the basis of Newton's Law of motion.

Answer 1

1. Newton's second law describes force to be equal to change in momentum($p=mv)$
2. When the ball moves fastly it has a certain momentum.
3. When we catch the fast-moving ball its momentum is transferred from the fast-moving ball to our hand.
4. If we keep our hands stationary the force exerted by the ball will be very high, hence there is a chance to get a wound on our hand.
5. If we pull our hands back we are increasing the time of flight of the ball, thus the momentum reduces as a result force acts on our hand also reduces.