If you throw 1 kg cotton and 1 kg watermelon at somone, why does the watermelon hit you harder despite it being the same weight?

Question

If you throw 1 kg cotton and 1 kg watermelon at somone, why does the watermelon hit you harder despite it being the same weight?

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Answer 1

The watermelon is denser than cotton i.e There’s more material packed in it per unit volume than it is in cotton. That explains why the watermelon feels harder. Additionally when hit with a watermelon a smaller area of it actually contacts your body so the melon’s kinetic energy is dissipated over a smaller area. Also a 1kg ball of cotton thrown at you with the same initial velocity and from the same distance will slow down faster compared to the melon due to air resistance. It’s kinetic energy right before hitting you will be much smaller than that of the melon.