Chapter 2

Forces And Motion

Transparency
13
Marshall Cavendish
(
Malaysia
)
Sdn. Bhd.
Solution Question
Impulse And Impulsive Force
Impulsive force is the force acting on objects during a collision or explosion.

Impulse is the product of force and time or the change of momentum.
Ft = mv mu
The unit for impulse is N s or kg m s
1
.
Combinations Of Force And Time To Produce 100 Units Of Impulse
mv mu
t
F =
Force
F
100
50
25
10
1
0.1
Time
t
1
2
4
10
100
1000
Impulse
Ft = mv mu
100
100
100
100
100
100
A boy of mass 40 kg falls from a height of
5 m to the ground. If the acceleration due
to gravity is 10 m s
2
, calculate the velocity
of the boy when he just touches the ground.
What is the impulsive force acting on the
boy if he falls onto
(a) a cement foor and takes 0.1 s to stop,
(b) the sandy ground and takes 0.8 s to stop?
v
2
= u
2
+ 2as
= 0 + 2 10 5 = 100
Velocity of the boy, v = 10 m s
1
(a) Impulsive force,
F
1
=
= = 4 000 N
(b) Impulsive force,
F
2
=
= = 500 N
mv mu
t
40 10 40 0
0.1
mv mu
t
40 10 40 0
0.8
Lengthening the time of collision during a car
accident can reduce impulsive force
and hence, lives can be saved.
mv mu
t
F =
Impulsive
forces can be
benefcial.
Impulsive forces
can be harmful.