Mechanical impulse. Force and time
The online mechanical impulse simulations on this page will help you to better understand this important concept of physics, how it is calculated and how it is related to other quantities.
This Thematic Unit is part of our Physics collection
STEM OnLine mini dictionary
Change in Momentum
Change experienced in a body’s momentum, which is numerically equal to the received impulse.
Contact Time
Duration of the interval during which a force acts on an object to modify its state of motion.
Impact Force
Intense force acting over a very short period of time, characteristic of collisions and crashes.
Impulse
Vector quantity product of the applied force by the time interval of action, measured in N·s.
Impulse-Momentum Theorem
Physical relationship stating that the impulse applied to a body equals the change in its linear momentum.
Linear Momentum
Technical term synonymous with momentum, commonly used in the dynamic analysis of systems.
Momentum
Vector quantity defined as the product of a body’s mass and its velocity, measured in kg·m/s.
What is the mechanical impulse
Mechanical impulse is a physical quantity that is defined as the product of the force acting on an object and the time during which the force acts. Mathematically, impulse is expressed as J = F ∆t, where J is the impulse, F is the force and ∆t is the time during which the force acts.
Impulse is a very important quantity in physics, since it is related to many other physical quantities, such as velocity, momentum and kinetic energy.
Units of the mechanical impulse
Mechanical impulse is a vector quantity, which means that it has a direction and a quantity. The direction of the impulse is the same as the direction of the force acting on the object. It has units of Newton-second (N-s) in the International System of Units (SI). It can also be expressed in units of kilogram-meter per second (kg-m/s) in the System of Technical Units (SUT).
Law of conservation of mechanical impulse
The law of conservation of impulse states that, in an isolated system, the total amount of impulse before and after a collision is the same. This means that if two objects collide, the sum of their impulses before the collision is equal to the sum of their impulses after the collision.
STEM OnLine mini dictionary
Change in Momentum
Change experienced in a body’s momentum, which is numerically equal to the received impulse.
Contact Time
Duration of the interval during which a force acts on an object to modify its state of motion.
Impact Force
Intense force acting over a very short period of time, characteristic of collisions and crashes.
Impulse
Vector quantity product of the applied force by the time interval of action, measured in N·s.
Impulse-Momentum Theorem
Physical relationship stating that the impulse applied to a body equals the change in its linear momentum.
Linear Momentum
Technical term synonymous with momentum, commonly used in the dynamic analysis of systems.
Momentum
Vector quantity defined as the product of a body’s mass and its velocity, measured in kg·m/s.
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Mechanical impulse simulations
Impulse laboratory
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“If I have seen further, it is by standing on the shoulders of giants”
Isaac Newton
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–
Leonhard Euler
–
Become a giant
Mechanics, Part 2
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Test your knowledge
How is impulse defined in physics, and why is it a key quantity for describing short‑duration interactions?
What is the relationship between impulse and momentum, and how does this connection help analyze collisions and impacts?
Why can a quick hit change an object’s motion so much? Does it really make sense that such a short interaction has such a big effect?
What happens if I apply a small force for a long time? How come that can also create a large impulse?
Does it make sense that impulse explains why a strong hit hurts more than a gentle one?
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