Final answer:
Catching a ball with a 'giving' motion and diving into water with fingers first both reduce impact forces by extending the time over which the force is applied or by minimizing resistance. These principles lead to more fluid motion in activities like swimming, where efficiency and comfort are important. So, the given statement is True.
Step-by-step explanation:
When catching a ball with a 'giving' motion, you are reducing the impact force by increasing the time over which the force is applied.
Conversely, catching a ball with your hands still results in a greater impact force over a shorter time period.
When hitting water with your full palm (similar to a belly flop), there is a large surface area encountering the water's resistance; this increases the impact force and is less comfortable.
However, entering the water with your fingers first, as you would in a dive, presents a smaller surface area and therefore encounters less resistance, allowing for a smoother entry into the water.
The principle involved here is impulse, which is the product of force and the time over which the force is applied.
A larger impact area, like the full palm, leads to greater resistance and a more abrupt stop, which is why divers are advised to avoid belly flops and choose dives that minimize surface area upon impact.
This understanding helps swimmers to start and stop with more fluid motion, leading to more efficient swimming.
Therefore, the given statement is True.