Final answer:
Landing on a soft foam pad is less painful than concrete because the softness increases the duration of impact, spreading out the force over a longer time and reducing injury risk.
Step-by-step explanation:
Landing on a soft foam pad hurts less than landing on bare concrete because the soft material increases the duration of the impact. When you fall onto a foam pad, the material compresses and extends the time over which the force is applied to your body. This extended impact duration reduces the force experienced at any given moment, in accordance with the concept of impulse and the impulse-momentum theorem (ΔΡ = when the mass is At). In simpler terms, the force of the impact is spread out over a longer time, reducing the pressure and thus the pain or potential for injury.
Comparatively, landing on a hard surface like concrete does not significantly compress or extend the impact duration, leading to a higher force over a shorter period. This can result in more pain and a greater chance of injury, such as fractures, because bones in the body can only withstand a certain amount of force.