HEWITT DREW IT

24. Momentum 

Paul, a former boxer, investigates the physics of riding with a punch, and other situations related to momentum.

End Question:

When you are lucky enough to catch a fly ball with your bare hand while watching a baseball game, your hand will be best off if you catch the ball with your hand extended toward the ball, then while contact is being made, pulling your hand back, gradually stopping the ball. In terms of impulse-momentum, explain why this is so.