Which quantity is equal to the impulse delivered to an object?

Which quantity is equal to the impulse delivered to an object?

• A. p_f - p_i
• B. Δp
• C. p_i
• D. F

Answer: (B)

Impulse is the net effect of a force acting on an object over a period of time and it changes the object's momentum. In formula form, impulse J equals the integral of force over time, J = ∫ F dt, and this equals the change in momentum: Δp = p_f − p_i. So the quantity that matches the impulse is the change in momentum, which can also be written as the final momentum minus the initial momentum. The initial momentum alone isn’t the impulse, and a force by itself isn’t the impulse unless you account for how long and how hard it acts.

Impulse is the net effect of a force acting on an object over a period of time and it changes the object's momentum. In formula form, impulse J equals the integral of force over time, J = ∫ F dt, and this equals the change in momentum: Δp = p_f − p_i. So the quantity that matches the impulse is the change in momentum, which can also be written as the final momentum minus the initial momentum. The initial momentum alone isn’t the impulse, and a force by itself isn’t the impulse unless you account for how long and how hard it acts.