Question

Goal posts at the ends of football fields are padded as a safety measure for players who might run into them. How does thick padding around the goal post reduce injuries to players?

Answer 1

When looking at it from a physics standpoint, the thick padding decreases the amount of force that a player experiences. Force equals mass times acceleration where acceleration is distance over time. The thick padding increases the amount of time the player makes contact with the post which decreases force.

Answer 2

The padding around the goal post increases the time of the collision between the player and the post, which decreases the force exerted to bring the player to a stop.