Impulse (physics)
Integral of a force over a time interval / From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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In classical mechanics, impulse (symbolized by J or Imp) is the change in momentum of an object. If the initial momentum of an object is p1, and a subsequent momentum is p2, the object has received an impulse J:
Impulse | |
---|---|
Common symbols | J, Imp |
SI unit | newton-second (N⋅s) |
Other units | kg⋅m/s in SI base units, lbf⋅s |
Conserved? | yes |
Dimension |
Momentum is a vector quantity, so impulse is also a vector quantity.
Newton’s second law of motion states that the rate of change of momentum of an object is equal to the resultant force F acting on the object:
so the impulse J delivered by a steady force F acting for time Δt is:
The impulse delivered by a varying force is the integral of the force F with respect to time:
The SI unit of impulse is the newton second (N⋅s), and the dimensionally equivalent unit of momentum is the kilogram metre per second (kg⋅m/s). The corresponding English engineering unit is the pound-second (lbf⋅s), and in the British Gravitational System, the unit is the slug-foot per second (slug⋅ft/s).