Physics

Problem

During a collision, the horizontal force on a

0.50\,\text{kg}

cart increases linearly from 0 to

300\,\text{N}

over a time interval of

0.020\,\text{s}

and then immediately drops to zero. Determine the magnitude of the impulse imparted to the cart.

Intuitive explanation

Impulse is the total change in momentum delivered by a force over time, and when force varies, you need to find the area under the force–time graph. Since the force increases linearly from zero to its peak, you're looking at a triangular region—the impulse is simply that area, which depends only on the maximum force and duration, not on the cart's mass. This is a great reminder that impulse is about force × time, not about how the object responds.

Intuitive explanation

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