key term - Impulse

Definition

Impulse refers to the change in momentum of an object when a force is applied to it for a certain amount of time. It is calculated by multiplying the force applied to an object by the time interval over which the force acts.

Related terms

Momentum:

Momentum is the product of an object's mass and velocity. It represents how difficult it is to stop or change the motion of an object.

Conservation of Momentum:

This principle states that in a closed system where no external forces act, the total momentum before an event is equal to the total momentum after the event.

Collisions: Collisions occur when two objects interact with each other for a short period of time. They can be classified as elastic (kinetic energy is conserved) or inelastic (kinetic energy is not conserved).