Practice Impulse in Physics

Use these practice problems to test your method after reviewing the concept explanation and worked examples.

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Quick Recap

The product of force and time interval, equal to the resulting change in an object's momentum.

A big push for a short time or a small push for a long time can have the same effect.

Showing a random 20 of 50 problems.

Example 1

easy
A 2 kg2\text{ kg} object's velocity changes from 3 m/s3\text{ m/s} to 7 m/s7\text{ m/s}. Find the impulse it received.

Example 2

medium
A 7070 kg person lands from a jump at 66 m/s and stops. Compare the force when stopping in 0.10.1 s vs 0.50.5 s.

Example 3

easy
Impulse equals the change in what quantity?

Example 4

medium
A 0.5 kg0.5\text{ kg} ball moving 6 m/s6\text{ m/s} east is hit and travels 8 m/s8\text{ m/s} north. Find the magnitude of the impulse.

Example 5

easy
A constant 2020 N force acts for 0.250.25 s on a ball. Find the impulse.

Example 6

medium
The same 66 kg⋅\cdotm/s impulse is applied to a ball over 0.10.1 s instead of 0.020.02 s. Find the new average force.

Example 7

medium
A 33 kg object at 44 m/s receives a 99 N⋅\cdots impulse in its direction of motion. Find its final speed.

Example 8

medium
A 0.06 kg0.06\text{ kg} tennis ball travels at 30 m/s30\text{ m/s}, then is returned at 40 m/s40\text{ m/s} in the opposite direction. Find the impulse the racket gives the ball.

Example 9

medium
A 60 kg60 \text{ kg} person jumps and lands on the ground, changing velocity from −4 m/s-4 \text{ m/s} (downward) to 0 m/s0 \text{ m/s} in 0.5 s0.5 \text{ s}. What average force does the ground exert?

Example 10

medium
A 0.4 kg0.4\text{ kg} ball has its velocity changed by +5 m/s+5\text{ m/s}. If you want to deliver this impulse in 0.5 s0.5\text{ s} instead of 0.1 s0.1\text{ s}, how does the average force change?

Example 11

medium
Distinguish impulse from work in one sentence.

Example 12

medium
A 0.20 kg0.20 \text{ kg} hockey puck moves at 3 m/s3 \text{ m/s} east, then is struck and moves at 7 m/s7 \text{ m/s} west. What impulse was delivered to the puck?

Example 13

easy
A force of 200 N200 \text{ N} acts on a ball for 0.05 s0.05 \text{ s}. What is the impulse delivered to the ball?

Example 14

easy
A force-time graph shows a constant 88 N over 22 s. What is the impulse (area under the graph)?

Example 15

medium
Why do airbags reduce the force on a driver in a crash, even though the change in momentum is the same?

Example 16

hard
A 0.5 kg0.5\text{ kg} ball falls from 5 m5\text{ m}, hits the ground at v=2ghv = \sqrt{2gh}, and rebounds at 80%80\% of its impact speed. Find the impulse from the ground (g=9.8g=9.8).

Example 17

medium
A 4 N4\text{ N} force acts for 3 s3\text{ s}, then a 6 N6\text{ N} force in the opposite direction acts for 2 s2\text{ s}. Find the net impulse.

Example 18

challenge
A 22 kg ball falls and hits the ground at 1010 m/s, rebounding at 88 m/s. If contact lasts 0.050.05 s, find the average force from the ground (g=10g=10 m/s2^2).

Example 19

medium
A 22 kg object at 55 m/s experiences a −3-3 N⋅\cdots impulse (opposite its motion). Find its new speed.

Example 20

challenge
A 0.0450.045 kg golf ball leaves the tee at 5050 m/s after a 0.00050.0005 s contact. Find the average force.
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