Final answer:
To tackle effectively in football by using momentum, work, and energy, a player should keep their feet on the ground, using Earth as an anchor for applying force. This allows for more effective momentum transfer and energy conservation. A small force can achieve the same momentum change as a large force if applied over a longer time.
Step-by-step explanation:
Effective Football Tackling: Momentum, Work, and Energy
When football coaches advise players to keep their feet on the ground for blocks, hits, and tackles, they're drawing from principles that involve momentum, work, and energy. Making a tackle with feet planted on the ground allows a player to use the Earth's large mass as an anchor, which contributes to a more stabilizing force. This means the player can transfer momentum more effectively to the opposing player. Moreover, being grounded enables the player to apply a constant force over a distance (which is work), increasing the likelihood of a successful tackle. Additionally, keeping their feet on the ground helps in conserving energy as making contact with the ground nullifies any potential energy that would otherwise be wasted in a jump.
A small force can impart the same momentum as a large force if it is applied over a longer period of time. Since momentum is the product of mass and velocity (p = mv), as long as the product remains constant, the forces can vary inversely with time to achieve the same momentum change.