A freely falling ball bounces back when it hits the ground. At the point where the ball hits the ground, the impulse on the ball as compared to the momentum of the ball will be

Explanation

The impulse imparted on an object during a collision is equal to the change in momentum of that object. In this scenario, as the ball hits the ground and bounces back, its momentum changes direction, implying a change in momentum. Therefore, the impulse is equal to this change in momentum, making Option C the correct answer. Option A is incorrect because impulse, by definition, equals the change in momentum, not less. Option B is incorrect because a non-zero impulse is required to change the direction of the ball's momentum. Option D is incorrect as impulse cannot be more than the change in momentum; they are equivalent.