Final answer:
High quality armor can reduce impact energy by reducing the magnitude of the force exerted on the armor. This is achieved by absorbing and distributing the force over a larger area and longer time.
Step-by-step explanation:
High quality armor can reduce impact energy by as much as reducing the magnitude of the force exerted on the armor. In physics, the force exerted on an object is directly proportional to the change in momentum of the object, which is equal to the product of its mass and acceleration. When high quality armor is designed to absorb and distribute the impact force over a larger area and longer time, it can significantly reduce the impact energy on the wearer. For example, bulletproof vests use layers of high-density materials to spread out the force of a bullet and prevent it from penetrating the armor.