Final answer:
The force produced when a boxer's hand hits a heavy bag and bounces off is called impulsive force. Padded gloves reduce the impact of the force but can still cause damage. A similar concept applies to hitting a tennis ball with the racquet's 'sweet spot', reducing the force felt in the hand.
Step-by-step explanation:
The force produced when a boxer's hand hits a heavy bag and \"bounces\" off it is called impulsive force. This is the force applied during the very short time interval when the glove is in contact with the bag. This contact results in a rapid deceleration of the boxer's hand, and the force is high due to the short interaction time.
During a boxing match, using padded gloves reduces the impact of this force. When comparing the use of boxing gloves to the times when gloves were not used, the padding increases the time over which the force is applied and effectively reduces the compression (and therefore the force) on the opponent's face. However, even though the force is lower with a glove, it can still cause significant damage.
This concept is similar to how hitting a tennis ball with the \"sweet spot\" of a racquet can minimize the force felt in the hand, as the impact causes less vibration and reaction force.