Lesson 2.3: Impulse

In Lesson 2.2, you discovered what determines the magnitude of the force when there is a change in momentum. You found that the time interval over which the change in momentum occurs is critical to the magnitude of the force involved.

In this lesson you will see that the change in momentum of an object is equal to a special quantity called impulse. This quantity is equal to the product of the force acting on an object and the time interval over which the force acts on the body.

• Read pages 252 to 255 of the textbook, ending at the activity “The Evolution of Safety Technologies” on page 255. Answer the questions as you encounter them.
  
  Check your answers with those in the “Practice Answers” in the online course.

A modern vehicle has seat belts, air bags, and numerous other safety features. Vehicles were not always built with these safety features. In the next activity you will look into the advances in vehicle safety.

• Read “2.3 Summary” on page 256 of the textbook. Then, complete “2.3 Questions”.
  
  Check your answers with those in the “Practice Answers” in the online course.

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Go to Assignment 2.3: Impulse.