Final answer:
Padding in gloves reduces the force on the hand by increasing the time over which the ball's momentum decreases, hence reducing impulse. A grounded football player transfers momentum more effectively, while hitting a tennis ball on the racquet's sweet spot reduces arm vibration and potential injury.
Step-by-step explanation:
It feels better to catch a hard ball with a padded glove because of impulse, which is the change in momentum resulting from a force applied over a period of time. Padding increases the time over which the ball's momentum decreases to zero, thus reducing the force experienced by the hand. In terms of everyday life, padding like a carpeted floor in a daycare is safer than tile because it reduces the force felt during a fall, similar to how padded gloves absorb the impact in sports.
In the context of sports, momentum, work, and energy are crucial. A football player with feet on the ground can exert a more powerful impact because being grounded allows for better transfer of momentum and stable application of force. For a tennis player, hitting the ball on the racquet's sweet spot minimizes shock and vibration to the arm, preventing injury and allowing more efficient transfer of energy to the ball.