IMPULSES OF FORCE

In previous article, we leant that a moving body has momentum and that on effect (a force) is needed to stop it. It is our common experience that a smaller force takes more time to stop the body whereas a bigger force does the same in lesser time. This observation gives concept of a new quantity, force × time, which is named a impulse.

Definition :

The product of the magnitude of a force applied on a  body and the time for which it is applied, is called impulse of the force. It is represented by the symbol (I).

i.e., Impulse = Force × Time

or I = F. t

The S.I. unit of impulse is Newton-second (N-s) and the C.G.S unit is dyne - second (dyne -s)

Impulse and Momentum :

From Newton’s second law of motion

Force, or

i.e., Impulse = Change in momentum

This relation is called impulse equation or momentum-impulse theorem. It has an important application in our everyday life.