9/25/25, 4:35 PM Impulse and Momentum - IB Physics Revision Notes

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Launchpad DP IB Physics: HL Revision Notes

Impulse & Momentum

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Ashika 16 December 2024

Impulse & Momentum

When an external resultant force acts on an object for a
very short time and changes the object's motion, we call
this impulse
For example:
Kicking a ball
Catching a ball
A collision between two objects
Impulse is the product of the force applied and the time
for which it acts
J = F∆t

Where:
J = impulse, measured in newton seconds (N s)
F = resultant external force applied, measured in
newtons (N)
∆ t = change in time over which the force acts,
measured in seconds (s)

Because the force is acting for only a short time, it is very

difficult to directly measure the magnitude of the force or
the time for which it acts
Instead, it can be measured indirectly
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9/25/25, 4:35 PM Impulse and Momentum - IB Physics Revision Notes

Newtons' second law can be stated in terms of

momentum Upgrade
The resultant force on an object is equal to its rate of change
of momentum
Therefore:
∆p
F= ⇒ ∆p = F∆t
∆t

Where:
F = resultant force, measured in newtons (N)
∆ p = change in momentum, measured in kilogram
metres per second (kg m s−1)
∆ t = change in time over which the force acts,
measured in seconds (s)

Change in momentum is equal to impulse

Therefore, change in momentum can be used to measure
impulse indirectly
J = ∆ p = mv − mu

Where:
J = impulse, measured in newton seconds (N s)
∆ p = change in momentum, measured in kilogram
metres per second (kg m s−1)
m = mass, measured in kilograms (kg)
v = final velocity, measured in meters per second (m
s−1)
u = initial velocity, measured in meters per second (m
s−1)
These equations are only used when the force F is
constant
Impulse, like force and momentum, is a vector quantity
with both a magnitude and direction
The impulse is always in the direction of the resultant
force
A small force acting over a long time has the same effect
as a large force acting over a short time

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Examiner Tips and Tricks

If you follow the units in your calculations (which is always a
good idea!), the base units for the newton are:
1 N = 1 kg m s−2
This is why FΔt = Δp
kg m s−2 × s = kg m s−1

Impulse Examples
When rain and hail (frozen water droplets) hit an umbrella
they feel very different. This is an example of impulse.
Water droplets tend to splatter and roll off the
umbrella because there is only a very small change in
momentum
Hailstones have a larger mass and tend to bounce
back off the umbrella, because there is a greater
change in momentum
Therefore, the impulse that the umbrella applies on
the hail stones is greater than the impulse the
umbrella applies on the raindrops
This means that more force is required to hold an
umbrella upright in hail compared to rain

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The impulse applied by the umbrella to the hail stones is

greater than the impulse applied to the rain drops
The concept of impulse is used to prevent injury
Increasing the time over which the change in
momentum occurs, reduces the force experienced
by the person
For example, in cricket:
A cricket ball travels at very high speeds and therefore
has a high momentum
When a fielder catches the ball, the ball exerts a force
on their hands
Stopping a ball with high momentum abruptly will
exert a large force on their hands
This is because the change in momentum (impulse)
acts over a short period of time which creates a large
force on the fielder's hands and could cause serious
injury
A fielder moves their hands back when they catch the
ball, which increases the time for the change in
momentum to occur
This means there will be less force exerted on the
fielder's hands and therefore, less chance of injury

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A cricket fielder moves their hands backwards when

catching a cricket ball to reduce the force it will exert on
their hands

Worked Example
A 58 g tennis ball moving horizontally to the left at a speed of
30 m s–1 is struck by a tennis racket which returns the ball to
the right at 20 m s–1.
(a) Calculate the impulse of the racket on the ball
(b) State the direction of the impulse
Answer:
(a)
Step 1: List the known quantities
Taking the direction of the initial motion of the ball as
positive (the left)
Initial velocity, u = 30 m s–1
Final velocity, v = –20 m s–1
Mass, m = 58 g = 58 × 10–3 kg
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9/25/25, 4:35 PM Impulse and Momentum - IB Physics Revision Notes

Step 2: Write down the impulse equation

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J = ∆ p = mv − mu = m ( v − u )

Step 3: Substitute in the known values

J = ( 58 × 10−3) × (−20 − 30) = − 2 . 9 N s

(b)
Step 1: State the direction of the impulse
Since the impulse is negative, it must be in the opposite
direction to which the tennis ball was initially travelling
Therefore, (since the left is taken as positive) the direction
of the impulse is to the right

Examiner Tips and Tricks

Remember that if an object changes direction, then this must
be reflected by the change in the sign of the velocity (and
impulse). This is the most common mistake made by students.
Velocity, impulse, force and momentum are all vectors!
For example, if the left is taken as positive and therefore the
right as negative, an impulse of 20 N s to the right is equal to
−20 N s

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