2.

6 Analying impulse and

impulsive force

Learning Outcome :
Explain what an impulsive force is.
Give examples of situation involving

impulsive forces.
Define impulse as a change of momentum,
i.e
Ft = mv mu
Define impulsive force as the rate of change
of momentum in collision or explosion i.e
F = mv mu
t

Learning Outcome :
Explain the effect of increasing or
decreasing time of impact on magnitude of
the impulsive forces.
Describe situation where an impulsive
force needs to be reduced and suggest
ways to reduce it.
Describe situation where an impulsive
force is beneficial

Formula of Impulse
Impulse is the product of force and time
Impulse experience by the ball
Impulse = Ft
Impulse = momentum change
= mv mu
Unit : Kgms-1 or Ns

Example 1 :

A car of mass

is moving
with velocity of 30m/s. A net
force of 200Nis applied on the
car for 15s . Find the impulse
exerted on the car and hence
determine the final velocity of
the car.
600kg

Answer:
Impulse = F t
= (200) (15)
= 3000Ns
Impulse = mv - mu
(3000) = 600v - 600(30)
600v = 3000 + 18000
v = 21000/600
= 35 m/s

What is impulsive force?

Impulsive force is defined as the
rate of change of momentum in a
reaction.
It is a force which acts on an
object for a very short interval
during a collision or explosion.

An Impulsive Force is Beneficial

Example 2:
A car of mass 1000kg is
traveling with a
velocity of 25 m/s. The car
hits a street lamp and is
stopped in 0.05 seconds.
What is the impulsive force
acting on the car during
the crash?

Answer :
Impulsive Force :
F = m(v-u)
t
= 1000( 0 25 )
0.05
= - 500,000N

Effect of time on impulsive force

1 : Long Jump
The long jump pit is filled
with sand to increase the
reaction time when
athlete land on it.
This is to reduce the
impulsive force acts on
the leg of the athlete
because impulsive force
is inversely proportional
to the reaction time.

Effect of Time on Impulsive

Force 2 : High Jump
During a high jump, a
high jumper will land on
a thick, soft mattress
after the jump.
This is to increase the
reaction time and
hence reduces the
impulsive force acting
on the high jumper.