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11 grade physics others

Define impulse of a force and impulsive force.

Profile image of Aniket Singh
1 Year agoGrade
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Profile image of Askiitians Tutor Team
1 Year ago

Impulse of a force refers to the change in momentum experienced by an object when a force is applied to it for a certain period of time. Mathematically, impulse is defined as the product of the force applied to an object and the time interval over which the force acts. It is represented by the equation:

Impulse = Force × Time

Impulse has both magnitude and direction and is measured in units of Newton-seconds (Ns) or kilogram-meters per second (kg·m/s).

Impulsive force, on the other hand, refers to a force that acts on an object for a very short duration, causing a significant change in momentum. It is characterized by a high magnitude and acts over a short period of time. Impulsive forces often occur during collisions or interactions between objects. These forces can result in rapid changes in velocity or direction, leading to significant changes in momentum. The impulsive force can be calculated by dividing the impulse by the time interval over which it acts:

Impulsive Force = Impulse / Time

It's important to note that impulsive forces can also be referred to as impact forces or collision forces, as they are commonly encountered in situations involving collisions or sudden interactions between objects.