Final answer:
More impulse is delivered when a ball bounces off the floor because there is a greater change in momentum due to the significant change in velocity when the ball changes direction. The ball's deformation and reformation during a bounce also contribute to the energy conversion process, enhancing the impulse.
Step-by-step explanation:
When a ball bounces off the floor, more impulse is delivered during the interaction than when the ball does not bounce. Impulse is defined as the change in momentum, and momentum is the product of mass and velocity. In a bouncing scenario, the ball changes direction, which means its velocity changes more significantly than in a non-bouncing scenario where the ball just comes to a rest. The greater change in velocity results in a greater change in momentum, hence a larger impulse is delivered.
In terms of energy, when a ball bounces, it deforms and then reforms its shape, thereby using energy to push off the floor. This act of deformation and reformation requires energy, part of which is converted back into kinetic energy as the ball bounces upwards. When the ball doesn't bounce, this energy conversion doesn't happen to the same extent, and more energy is lost to the floor as work done by the ball and due to friction, resulting in a smaller impulse.
To put this in context, consider dropping a glass on a cement floor compared to a grass lawn. The impulse experienced by the glass on the cement floor is much more abrupt because the grass provides a cushion that extends the time of impact, reducing the force and therefore the impulse.