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?

It absorbs the force of the impact- slowing down the impact speed and converting that force onto the padding.

Explanation:

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

edge 2020

acceleration = (change in speed) / (time for the change)

change in speed = (20-120)= -100 m/s.

1.5 min = 90 sec

acceleration = -100/90 = -1.11 m/s^2.

we don't care about the 150kg or the 2,500 meters. they don't make any difference.

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it is the second option.