Mission MC2 Impulse and Momentum Change
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A 2.0-kg object moving at 5.0 m/s encounters a 30-Newton resistive force over a duration of 0.10 seconds. The impulse (magnitude only) experienced by this object is approximately ____ N•s.
(Note: Numbers are randomized numbers and likely different from the numbers listed here.)
Impulse = F • t
This question is quite simple if you approach it with a confident understanding of what impulse is and how to calculate it. On the other hand, if your grasp of impulse is weak or your confidence is low, you will become distracted by the amount of information provided in the question. In fact, you will likely make an effort to include mass and velocity information in your calculation despite their lack of importance to the question. Don't be fooled! Impulse is the product of force and time; if both quantities are known, the impulse can be calculated (see Formula Frenzy section).
When a force is exerted upon an object in a collision, the object is said to have encountered an impulse. The impulse is simply the mathematical product of the force exerted on the object and the amount of time over which it was exerted. The impulse changes the object's momentum and is equal to the amount of momentum change.
