Impulse Transitional Reasoning Download PDF
10 Physics practice questions on Impulse. Questions that build towards applied reasoning.
Questions
- 1.
A high-pressure industrial cleaning system uses a continuous water jet to wash a vertical barrier. The nozzle discharges water horizontally at a constant rate of 12 kg/s with a speed of 25 m/s. The stream strikes the flat surface perpendicularly and flows outward along the barrier without rebounding. What are the magnitude of the horizontal impulse delivered to the barrier over a 3.0-second interval and the magnitude of the average force exerted on it during this time?
- 2.
Two astronauts, Astronaut 1 of mass 50 kg and Astronaut 2 of mass 75 kg, are initially at rest relative to each other while floating in microgravity. Astronaut 1 pushes directly against Astronaut 2 along a straight line, causing Astronaut 2 to drift away with a speed of 1.2 m/s. Assuming no external forces act on either astronaut, what are the magnitude of the impulse delivered to Astronaut 1 during the push and Astronaut 1's resulting speed?
- 3.
On a frictionless horizontal test track, a 4.0 kg laboratory cart moving at 5.0 m/s collides with an initially stationary 6.0 kg cart. A magnetic coupler engages during the impact, causing the two carts to latch together and move forward as a combined unit. If the coupling interaction lasts for 0.050 s, what are the magnitude of the impulse delivered to the 6.0 kg cart and the magnitude of the average force exerted on it during the collision?
- 4.
A 2.0 kg medicine ball falls vertically and reaches an athlete's hands moving downward at 6.0 m/s. The athlete cushions the ball, bringing it to a complete stop over a time interval of 0.40 s. Taking the acceleration due to gravity as 10 m/s² directed downward, what are the magnitude of the net impulse delivered to the ball and the magnitude of the upward impulse delivered specifically by the athlete's hands during this catch?
- 5.
Two laboratory carts, Cart 1 of mass 1.0 kg and Cart 2 of mass 3.0 kg, are initially at rest on a frictionless horizontal track. A student applies an identical constant horizontal force of 6.0 N to each cart independently for a duration of 2.0 s. How does the magnitude of the impulse delivered to Cart 1 compare with that delivered to Cart 2, and what are the final speeds of the two carts?
- 6.
During a training drill on a flat horizontal pitch, a 0.50 kg soccer ball rolling due east at 12 m/s is kicked such that it immediately moves due north at 16 m/s. Assuming external resistive forces during the brief impact are negligible, what is the magnitude of the impulse delivered to the ball by the kick?
- 7.
A sensor-guided test cart moves along a straight, frictionless guide track. A forward propulsion pulse applies a constant force of 15 N in the direction of motion for 0.40 s, followed immediately by an active electromagnetic brake that exerts a constant force of 10 N in the opposite direction for 1.2 s. What is the magnitude of the net impulse delivered to the cart over this entire 1.6-second interval, and what is the cart's resulting change in momentum?
- 8.
A 4.0 kg remote-controlled rover moves along a straight, frictionless track with an initial velocity of +3.0 m/s. A forward propulsion thruster engages such that the net horizontal force on the rover increases linearly from 2.0 N to 6.0 N over a duration of 2.0 s. What is the magnitude of the impulse delivered to the rover during this interval, and what is its final velocity?
- 9.
An engineering team tests the impact dynamics of two identical 0.50 kg projectile probes striking a fixed instrumented target along a horizontal line at 8.0 m/s. Probe 1 bounces straight backward off the target surface at 6.0 m/s, whereas Probe 2 is captured by a mechanical clamp on the target and brought to an immediate stop without bouncing. Assuming horizontal motion and negligible friction during the brief impact, what are the magnitudes of the impulses delivered by the target to Probe 1 and Probe 2, respectively?
- 10.
A vehicle safety team tests two prototype crumple barriers, Barrier 1 and Barrier 2, by launching identical 800 kg sleds at 15 m/s into each barrier until they come to a complete stop. Telemetry data reveals that Barrier 1 halts the sled in 0.15 s, whereas Barrier 2 deforms gradually and halts the sled in 0.60 s. Based on the impulse-momentum theorem, how do the magnitude of the impulse delivered to the sled and the average net stopping force compare for Barrier 2 relative to Barrier 1?