Final answer:
When striking a fixed object, more force is applied compared to an object designed to absorb impact because the impact duration is shorter, leading to a higher force over this duration. Materials designed to absorb energy, like airbags, reduce the force by spreading it over a longer time.
Step-by-step explanation:
Striking a fixed object will result in more force being applied to the striking object than when striking objects designed to absorb impact. This is analogous to the concept of impulse in physics where the duration of the impact can drastically change the effect of the force involved in a collision. Striking an object that absorbs energy, such as with a safety device like an airbag or crumple zone, increases the duration of the impact, thereby reducing the force applied to the colliding object or person and reducing potential damage or injury.
By contrast, a fixed, rigid object has no give, leading to a quicker stop and a higher force exerted over a shorter duration. This can be likened to the situation where more energy is required to break particles into their constituent components when striking a stationary target that contains zero kinetic energy. Additionally, the comparison between black and white objects absorbing energy at different rates illustrates that materials' properties play a crucial role in impact scenarios; surfaces that absorb energy slower will usually lead to more violent impact forces.