What is Impulse?

Impulse is the product of the force applied to an object and the time during which the force is

applied. It changes the object's momentum. The greater the force or the longer the time it acts, the

larger the impulse.

Impulse Equation

The equation for impulse is:

Impulse (J) = Force (F) × Time (t)

Where:

J is the impulse.

F is the force applied.

t is the time for which the force acts.

Alternatively, impulse can be related to the change in momentum:

Impulse (J) = Change in momentum (Δp) = Mass (m) × Change in velocity (Δv)

Where:

J is the impulse.

Δp is the change in momentum.

m is the mass of the object.

Δv is the change in velocity (final velocity - initial velocity).

Impulse is measured in Newton-seconds (Ns), which is equivalent to the units of momentum.

Example 1: Impulse from a Constant Force.

If a 5 kg ball is kicked with a force of 20 N applied for 0.2 seconds, the impulse can be calculated

as:

Impulse (J) = Force (F) × Time (t) = 20 N × 0.2 s = 4 Ns

This means the ball's momentum has increased by 4 Newton-seconds.

Example 2: Impulse and Change in Momentum

If a 2 kg object has an initial velocity of 3 meters per second (m/s), and after applying a force, its

velocity changes to 7 m/s, the impulse can be calculated using the change in momentum:

Impulse (J) = Mass (m) × Change in velocity (Δv) = 2 kg × (7 m/s - 3 m/s) = 2 kg × 4 m/s = 8 Ns

This means the object's momentum has increased by 8 Newton seconds.

Conservation of Linear Momentum

The principle of conservation of linear momentum states that the total momentum of a system

remains constant if no external forces act on it. For two objects, this is expressed as:
(mass of object 1 × initial velocity of object 1) + (mass of object 2 × initial velocity of object 2)

= (mass of object 1 × final velocity of object 1) + (mass of object 2 × final velocity of object 2)

In text format, this can be written as:

m1 × u1 + m2 × u2 = m1 × v1 + m2 × v2

Where:

• m1 and m2 are the masses of the two objects,

• u1 and u2 are their initial velocities,

• v1 and v2 are their final velocities after the interaction.

Deriving Force = Mass × Acceleration Using Momentum

Newton’s second law states that the force applied to an object is proportional to the rate of

change of its momentum.

Momentum (p) is defined as the product of mass and velocity:

Momentum = Mass × Velocity

In text format, this is written as:

p=m×v

Where:

• p is the momentum,
 • m is the mass of the object,

• v is the velocity of the object.

According to Newton's second law:

Force = Rate of change of momentum

This can be expressed as:

F = Δp / Δt

Where:

• F is the force applied,

• Δp is the change in momentum,

• Δt is the time interval over which the change occurs.

Since momentum p is equal to m × v, the change in momentum can be written as:

Change in momentum = Mass × Change in velocity

Therefore:

F = m × Δv / Δt

Now, introducing the definition of acceleration (a), which is the change in velocity over time:

Acceleration = (Final velocity - Initial velocity) ÷ Time

In text format, this is written as:

a = (v - u) / t

Where:

• v is the final velocity,

• u is the initial velocity,

• t is the time over which the velocity changes.

Substituting the expression for acceleration into the force equation gives us:

Force = Mass × Acceleration

In text format, this is written as:

F=m×a

Collisions are interactions between two or more bodies that result in a change in their velocities,

directions, or both. They are an essential concept in physics and can be classified into two main

types: elastic collisions and inelastic collisions. Each type of collision exhibits distinct

characteristics regarding the conservation of momentum and kinetic energy.

Types of Collisions

Elastic Collisions

In elastic collisions, both momentum and kinetic energy are conserved.

Objects involved in the collision rebound off each other without any loss of energy.
This type of collision typically occurs at the atomic or molecular level (e.g., gas particles colliding)

or in idealized scenarios.

Example: When two billiard balls collide, they bounce off each other, conserving both momentum

and kinetic energy.

Mathematically, for two objects:

• Total momentum before collision = Total momentum after collision

• Total kinetic energy before collision = Total kinetic energy after collision

In equation form, for two objects with masses m₁ and m₂, initial velocities u₁ and u₂, and final

velocities v₁ and v₂:

m₁ × u₁ + m₂ × u₂ = m₁ × v₁ + m₂ × v₂ (momentum conservation)

1/2 m₁ × u₁² + 1/2 m₂ × u₂² = 1/2 m₁ × v₁² + 1/2 m₂ × v₂² (kinetic energy conservation)

Inelastic Collisions

In inelastic collisions, momentum is conserved, but kinetic energy is not.

Some kinetic energy is transformed into other forms of energy, such as heat, sound, or deformation

of the objects involved.

The objects may stick together after the collision, resulting in a combined mass moving with a

common velocity.

Example: A car crash where two vehicles crumple together is a common scenario of an inelastic

collision.

Mathematically, for two objects:

Total momentum before collision = Total momentum after collision

Total kinetic energy before collision ≠ Total kinetic energy after collision

In equation form:

m₁ × u₁ + m₂ × u₂ = m₁ + m₂ × v (momentum conservation)

(No conservation equation for kinetic energy, as it is transformed into other forms)

Perfectly Inelastic Collisions

This is a specific type of inelastic collision where the two objects stick together after the collision.

It represents the maximum loss of kinetic energy. In a perfectly inelastic collision, the final velocity

of the combined mass can be calculated using:

v = (m₁ × u₁ + m₂ × u₂) / (m₁ + m₂)

Conclusion

Understanding collisions is crucial in various fields, including engineering, safety design, sports

science, and astrophysics. The principles governing collisions help predict the outcomes of

interactions between objects, leading to improved designs and safety measures in vehicles,

machinery, and other systems. The study of collisions also lays the groundwork for understanding

more complex physical phenomena.

Impulse in Real-Life Situations

Impulse is defined as the change in momentum of an object when a force is applied over a period

of time. It can be calculated using the formula:

Impulse = Force × Time

Impulse is often encountered in everyday situations. Here are a few examples:

1. Catching a Ball: When you catch a ball, you exert a force on it to bring it to a stop. The

faster the ball is traveling, the greater the impulse required to stop it. To minimize injury

and reduce the impact force on your hands, you can "give" with the ball by moving your

hands backward as you catch it. This increases the time over which the force is applied,

resulting in a smaller force experienced.

2. Car Airbags: Airbags in vehicles are designed to protect passengers during a collision.

When a car crashes, the sudden stop causes the passenger's body to continue moving

forward. The airbag deploys quickly and creates a cushion, increasing the time over which

the passenger comes to a stop. This increases the impulse experienced, reducing the force

on the passenger's body and minimizing injury.

3. Bungee Jumping: During a bungee jump, the jumper experiences a significant change in

momentum as they fall and then are abruptly stopped by the elastic cord. The elastic cord

stretches, increasing the time over which the force is applied, which reduces the peak force

experienced by the jumper and ensures a safer experience.

Momentum in Real-Life Situations

Momentum is the product of an object's mass and its velocity. It can be expressed as:

Momentum = Mass × Velocity

In real-life situations, momentum plays a crucial role in understanding how objects interact during

collisions. Here are some examples:

1. Vehicle Collisions: In a collision between two vehicles, momentum before the collision

must equal momentum after the collision (assuming no external forces act). For instance,

if a 1000 kg car traveling at 15 m/s collides with a stationary 1500 kg car, the momentum

of the first car is 15,000 kg·m/s (1000 kg × 15 m/s). If the cars stick together after the

collision, you can use the conservation of momentum to find their final velocity.

2. Sports: In sports like football or soccer, players must consider momentum when tackling

or passing. A player with more mass or higher speed has greater momentum, making them

harder to stop. For example, a 90 kg player running at 8 m/s has a momentum of 720 kg·m/s

(90 kg × 8 m/s). This understanding of momentum influences strategies during gameplay.

3. Rocket Launch: When a rocket launches, it expels gas downward at high speed, resulting

in an upward momentum change for the rocket (according to the principle of conservation

of momentum). As the gas is expelled, the rocket gains momentum in the opposite

direction, allowing it to ascend.

Understanding Momentum When Final Velocity = 0

In some scenarios, you may encounter situations where the final velocity of an object is zero, yet

it still possesses momentum prior to coming to a stop. For instance:

 1. A Moving Train: Consider a train that is moving and then comes to a complete stop at a

station. While the train is in motion, it has momentum due to its mass and velocity. As it

comes to a stop, the train's final velocity becomes zero, meaning its momentum becomes

zero at that point. However, before it stops, it has a significant momentum value.

2. A Football Player Tackling: A football player running towards another player has

momentum due to their speed. When the player is tackled and both players fall to the

ground (eventually coming to a stop), they have momentum during the interaction. Even if

they come to a stop (final velocity = 0), the collision caused a transfer of momentum and

energy between them.

In summary, momentum can exist while an object is moving, and its value is calculated using mass

and velocity. The momentum becomes zero only when the object has completely stopped, but

during the process of stopping, the object can exert a significant amount of momentum, influencing

other objects or scenarios around it