Which action results in a 15-yard penalty in football?

In football, the action of tripping an opponent results in a 15-yard penalty because it is classified as a personal foul. Personal fouls are considered serious violations of the rules that can endanger players' safety. This penalty not only incurs yardage loss but may also lead to additional consequences, such as the possibility of ejection for severe violations or repeated infractions.

On the other hand, actions like holding, false starts, and offside result in different penalties that are typically less severe. Holding, depending on the circumstances, usually results in a 10-yard penalty. False starts and offside both incur a 5-yard penalty, reflecting their nature as infractions of the rules that do not impact player safety directly. Such distinctions in penalties reflect the severity and the impact of the infractions on game play and player safety.