An automated logistics warehouse uses a vertical chute to transfer delicate electronic devices between floors. At the bottom of the chute, a soft, deformable silicone pad is installed. When a device reaches the bottom of the chute, the silicone pad compresses significantly as the device lands on it, compared to landing on a solid steel plate.
Use the concepts of momentum and impulse to explain how the silicone pad minimizes the risk of structural damage to the delicate electronic components.