Impulse

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Impulse Noun

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[im-puls]

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Impulse

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The product of the average force acting on an object and the time interval over which that force is applied.

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Example: This icon shows a person applying a force (a push) to an object, which is the cause of an impulse that changes the object's momentum.

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Momentum Noun

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[moh-men-tuhm]

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Momentum

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A quantity of motion of a moving body, measured as the product of its mass and its velocity.

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Example: This diagram shows two objects colliding. The total momentum of the objects before the collision is the same as the total momentum after, demonstrating conservation of momentum.

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Impulse-Momentum Theorem Noun

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[im-puls moh-men-tuhm thee-uh-rem]

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Impulse-Momentum Theorem

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The principle stating that the impulse exerted on an object is exactly equal to the change in that object's momentum.

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Example: This diagram shows a ball bouncing off a wall, representing a change in momentum. The text explains that a short contact time results in a high impact force.

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Vector Quantity Noun

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[vek-ter kwon-ti-tee]

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Vector Quantity

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A physical quantity, such as force or velocity, that possesses both a magnitude and a specific direction in space.

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Example: A vector quantity, like the forces shown, has both a size (magnitude) and a direction, which can be represented by arrows.

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Change in Momentum Noun

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[cheynj in moh-men-tuhm]

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Change in Momentum

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The difference between an object's final momentum and its initial momentum, often represented by the symbol Δp (delta p).

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Example: When the ball is released, the force of gravity acts on it, causing its velocity to increase and therefore changing its momentum from zero.

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Newton-second (N·s) Noun

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[noo-tun sek-uhnd]

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Newton-second (N·s)

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The standard international (SI) unit of impulse, derived from multiplying the unit of force (Newton) by time (second).

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Example: This diagram shows that the unit for impulse, the Newton-second (N·s), is equivalent to the unit for momentum (kg·m/s) by breaking it down into fundamental units.

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Force Noun

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[fors]

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Force

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An external influence, such as a push or a pull, that can cause an object to change its motion.

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Example: A person pushing a box demonstrates an applied force, while the opposing friction force resists the motion. This shows how forces can act on an object.

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Velocity Noun

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[vuh-los-i-tee]

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Velocity

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The rate of change of an object's position with respect to time, specifying both its speed and direction.

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Example: This diagram shows that velocity is not just speed, but also includes a specific direction, represented by the straight path from Point A to Point B.

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Mass Noun

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[mas]

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Mass

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A fundamental property of matter that measures an object's resistance to acceleration when a force is applied to it.

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Example: This image shows a balance scale comparing the mass of an apple to a 1-gram weight, illustrating that the apple has more mass.

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Newton (N) Noun

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[noo-tun]

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Newton (N)

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The standard international (SI) unit of force, defined as the force required to accelerate a one-kilogram mass by one meter per second squared.

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Example: This image shows a standard one Newton (N) weight, which is the force required to hold up an object with a mass of about 102 grams (like a small apple).