Final answer:
The minimum height a 1.2-kg glass figure must fall to break upon hitting a tile floor can be calculated using the average force and time to stop. For padded or carpeted surfaces, the impact time would increase, reducing the likelihood of breaking.
Step-by-step explanation:
To determine from what minimum height a 1.2-kg glass figure must fall onto a tile floor to break, we need to use the information given about the average force needed for it to break (330 N) and the time it takes to come to a stop (0.015 s).
The impulse, which is the change in momentum, is equal to the average force times the time interval during which the force acts. We can find the velocity just before impact using the relationship between impulse and movement: Impulse = Force × Time = Change in momentum = Mass × Change in velocity. Once we have the velocity, we use the kinematic equation that relates velocity to initial velocity, acceleration due to gravity, and height to find the minimum height.
If the glass figure were instead falling to a padded or carpeted surface, the time interval during which the force acts would likely increase due to the softer landing, resulting in a smaller average force experienced by the figure. This means that the glass figure could potentially survive falls from greater heights without breaking, as the force exerted upon impact would be less than 330 N.