In a lab environment, you are investigating the impulse of a force exerted on a brick when the brick's speed is reduced from 2.5 m/s to a complete stop. First, you allow the brick to slam into a secured piece of wood, bringing the brick to a sudden stop. Second, you allow the brick to plow into a large slab of gelatin so that the brick comes to a gradual halt. In which situation is there a greater impulse of the force on the brick? a. The impulse is the same in both situations. b. There is a greater impulse of the force on the brick from the gelatin. c. Not enough information is given to determine the answer. d. There is a greater impulse of the force on the brick from the wall.

Question

Physics

Leandro Snyder

Today, 09:13

In a lab environment, you are investigating the impulse of a force exerted on a brick when the brick's speed is reduced from 2.5 m/s to a complete stop. First, you allow the brick to slam into a secured piece of wood, bringing the brick to a sudden stop. Second, you allow the brick to plow into a large slab of gelatin so that the brick comes to a gradual halt. In which situation is there a greater impulse of the force on the brick? a. The impulse is the same in both situations. b. There is a greater impulse of the force on the brick from the gelatin. c. Not enough information is given to determine the answer. d. There is a greater impulse of the force on the brick from the wall.

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Answers (1)

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Sandra Nolan · Answer 1

a) The impulse is the same in both situations

Explanation:

Impulse = Change in momentum

Impulse = m (v₂ - v₁)

The speed was brought to a stop in both cases, it doesn't matter whether it is suddenly or slowly, v₂ = 0 m/s for both cases. The initial speed is also v₁ = 2.5 m/s for both cases. Since v₂ and v₁ is the same for both cases, v₂-v₁ is also the same, hence change in momentum is the same since the mass remains unchanged.

Since impulse is concerned with change in momentum, i. e. Final momentum - initial momentum, the impulse is the same in both situations.