Impulse Lab

~ Big Question: "What is the relationship between impulse, force, and time?"

 ~ This week we performed a lab where we attached aluminum rings to a car and the force probe. On the other end of the track was the sonar range finder to measure the velocity of the car. Then, we were set up, we pushed the red car into the force probe with the ring. When the car with the ring hit the ring,  it changed its direction to create an elastic collision.

Then we looked at the graphs on Logger Pro to find the before velocity and after velocity of the car and the integral which is the area of the parabola in the force and time graph.

Data:

Before: 0.2625

After: -0.2997

Integral: -0.2100

Next, we had to find the impulse. Impulse is the change in velocity of the car. Impulse is equal to momentum after minus momentum before.

     Impulse: -0.7425-0.65625=-0.14055

Comparing it to the area of the parabolic shape on the graph, they are approximately the same. With this information, we can assume that the area of a force and time graph is equal to the impulse.

Football: In football, many collisions occur, whether it be elastic or inelastic. These collisions cause impulses to happen.

Tom Brady Gets Crushed: Youtube Video

In this video, Tom Brady is running forward. This means that his momentum is going forward. When he gets hit, his momentum changes and his momentum is going back. This change in momentum is the impulse. Clements, the hitter is what causes Tom Brady's impulse.