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?

In: 0

Answer 1

The cotton would be less dense which gives it more air resistance, and the cotton can deform on impact so the force is spread out over more time. If the cotton were tightly compressed to the same size as the watermelon it would have a more similar impact.