To catch a fast-moving softball with your bare hand, you extend your hand forward just before the catch and then let the ball ride backward with your hand. doing this reduces the catching force because
a. the time of the catch is decreased.
b. relative velocity is more.
c. time of catch is increased.
d. relative velocity is less.
e. none of the above

option (c)

Explanation:

If a large force is applied on an object for a small duration of time, it is called impulsive force. for example, a bat's man hit the ball. here the contact time of bat and ball is very small while the force applied by the bat is very large.

Impulse = force x small time

To decrease the impulsive effect, the time should be increased.

thermal energy is the answer