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Theme A — Space, Time and Motion

A.2.12 Impulse and Momentum — IB Physics HL Revision Notes & Topical Questions

5 min read 10 parts Lesson 23 of 63 1 quiz

📚 IB Physics HL Hub / Topical Revision
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Curriculum Equation Key قوانين الرقم الهيدروجيني والاتزان الأيوني - pH & Acid-Base Equilibrium FormulasFast Exam Solution
pH = -log[H⁺] | pOH = -log[OH⁻] | pH + pOH = 14 | [H⁺][OH⁻] = 10⁻¹⁴
Word Equation & Conditions: الرقم الهيدروجيني = -لوغاريتم تركيز أيون الهيدروجين | pH + pOH = 14
Location & Specifications: الاتزان الأيوني، كيمياء 3 ثانوي، التحصيلي، و AP Chemistry.
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Lesson summary

A.2.12 Impulse and Momentum — IB PHYSICS SL notes: Define impulse, relate it to change in momentum and use force–time graphs to find impulse.Impulse = the product of the force applied and the time for which it acts, J = FΔt.J is in N s, F is the resultant external force in N and …

  • Short interactions
  • From the second law
  • Constant force
  • Equivalent effect
  • Linear rise and fall
  • Complicated pulse

Part 1 of 8Impulse

Impulse
Impulse the product of the force applied and the time for which it acts, J = FΔt.
  • J is in N s, F is the resultant external force in N and Δt the time in s.
Vector
  • Vector impulse is a vector in the direction of the resultant force.
Units
  • N s is the same as kg m s−1, because 1 N = 1 kg m s−2.
Short interactions
  • Short interactions kicking a ball, catching a ball and a collision are examples.
Measuring
  • Measuring the force and time are hard to measure directly, so impulse is found indirectly from momentum.

Part 2 of 8Impulse–momentum theorem

From the second law
  • F = Δp/Δt gives FΔt = Δp.
Statement
  • Statement the impulse of the resultant force equals the change in momentum, J = Δp = mv − mu.
  • m is the mass, v the final velocity and u the initial velocity.
Constant force
  • FΔt = Δp is used when the force F is constant.
Rebound
  • Rebound a ball arriving at +u and leaving at −v has Δp = −m(v + u), larger than simply stopping.
Equivalent effect
  • Equivalent effect a small force over a long time has the same effect as a large force over a short time.

Part 3 of 8Force–time graphs

Area
  • Area the area between the curve and the time axis is the impulse.
Constant force
  • Constant force the area is a rectangle, F × Δt.
Linear rise and fall
  • Linear rise and fall the area is a triangle, ½ × base × peak height.
Complicated pulse
  • Complicated pulse count squares or split into shapes.
Average force
  • Average force divide the impulse by the contact time; the peak force is greater than the average.
Change in velocity
  • Δv = area/m, so v = u + area/m.

Part 4 of 8Reducing and increasing forces

Reducing and increasing forces
For a given Δp
  • For a given Δp a longer contact time gives a smaller average force, F = Δp/Δt.
    What the symbols mean: F = force (N) · Δt = time the force acts (s) · Δp = change in momentum (kg m s−1); FΔt is the impulse (N s)
Crumple zones
  • Crumple zones they lengthen the collision time and reduce the force on passengers.
Airbags and seat belts
  • Airbags and seat belts they extend the stopping time.
Bent knees
  • Bent knees gymnasts and parachutists lengthen the landing time.
Cricket catch
  • Cricket catch the fielder draws the hands back to increase Δt and reduce the force on the hands.
Short contact wanted
  • Short contact wanted hammering a nail or hitting a golf ball needs a short contact and a high force.
Soft landing mats and helmets
  • Soft landing mats and helmets compressible materials increase the contact time.

Part 5 of 8Umbrella in rain and hail

Raindrops
  • Raindrops they splatter and roll off, with only a small change of momentum.
Hailstones
  • Hailstones they have larger mass and bounce back, so the change of momentum and the impulse are greater.
Result
  • Result more force is needed to hold an umbrella in hail than in rain.

Part 6 of 8Impulse with gravity and other forces

Resultant force
  • Resultant force the theorem applies to the resultant force.
Short contact
  • Short contact during a bounce the floor force is much larger than the weight, so the weight can be ignored.
Long duration
  • Long duration for a rocket engine, gravity must be included in the resultant.
Two colliding objects
  • Two colliding objects the impulses on them are equal and opposite, which proves conservation of momentum.

Part 7 of 8Estimating forces

Method
  • Method use F = Δp/Δt with a sensible contact time.
Header
  • Header a 0.43 kg ball changing momentum by about 6 kg m s−1 in about 10 ms gives an average force near 600 N.
Car crash
  • Car crash a 70 kg passenger stopping from 14 m s−1 in 0.10 s feels about 9800 N, over fourteen times the weight.
Crumple zone
  • Crumple zone doubling the time halves the force.
Curved force–time peak
  • Curved force–time peak count squares and convert the unit of one square.
    • (force per square times time per square)

Part 8 of 8More from the specification

More from the specification
Time integral of impact forces
  • Time integral of impact forces integrating resultant contact forces over collision duration yields impulse, directly equating to linear momentum change.
Impulse
  • Impulse the product of force and contact time, equal to the change in momentum.
Momentum
  • Momentum mass times velocity, a vector; force equals rate of change of momentum.
Force-time graph
  • Force-time graph the area under it gives the impulse.
Safety applications
  • Safety applications crumple zones and airbags lengthen the collision time and reduce the average force.
Newton's second law
  • Newton's second law the net force causes acceleration, F = ma when mass is constant, with friction opposing motion.
Normal reaction
  • The contact force perpendicular to a surface.
Reaction force
  • Force from a support pushing up on an object.
Fluid resistance
  • Drag force from a fluid opposing motion.
Normal
  • Line at 90° to a surface.
Tension
  • Force transmitted along a string or rope.
Buoyancy
  • Another name for upthrust.
Centripetal force
  • Net force toward the centre, mv2/r.
Static friction
  • Friction between surfaces at rest relative to each other; fs ≤ μsFN.
Kinetic energy
  • K = ½mv2, energy of motion.
Angular speed
  • Magnitude of the angular velocity.
Centripetal acceleration
  • Ac = v2/r toward the centre.
Acceleration
  • Rate of change of velocity.
Friction
  • Force parallel to the surface opposing relative motion or its tendency.
Newton
  • Unit of force, kg m s-2.
Radius
  • Distance from the centre to the circular path.

Key terms

TermMeaning
ImpulseProduct of force and the time it acts; equal to the change in momentum
Newton second (N s)Unit of impulse and momentum, equal to kg m s−1
Impulse–momentum theoremThe impulse of the resultant force equals the change in momentum
Average forceImpulse divided by the contact time
Force–time graphGraph whose area gives the impulse
Contact timeTime over which a force acts during an interaction

Avoid these mistakes

1
Forgetting the sign change when a body rebounds — Δp = m(v − u) with v reversed.
2
Using the peak force as the average force — the average is impulse divided by time.
3
Confusing impulse with force — impulse is force multiplied by time.
4
Using the weight in a short collision — the contact force is far larger.
5
Taking the area under a force–time graph as velocity — it is momentum change.

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