What is the required impulse to bring the car to rest?

In summary, the impulse required to bring a car with a mass of 1.0 X 103 kilograms and a speed of 1.4 X 102 m/s to rest is 1.4 X 105 N X S or -1.4 X 105 N X S. The negative sign may be omitted in reporting the answer, but technically the impulse must be negative to stop the positive velocity. This is because velocity is a vector quantity, while speed is not. It is important to clarify whether a direction or sign is required when solving for impulse, acceleration, or momentum.
  • #1
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Homework Statement


A car with a mass of 1.0 X 103kilograms is moving with a speed of 1.4 X10 2m/s. The impulse required to bring the car to rest is?


Homework Equations



impulse = change in momentum...

The Attempt at a Solution


the answere is 1.4 X 105 N X S or is it the negative...
 
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  • #2
Technically the impulse must be negative to stop the positive velocity.
But it is so obvious that the minus sign is often omitted in reporting the answer. Like getting a bill for car repairs of $250. Your payment should really be -$250 to cancel it out, but we never bother saying that.

Velocity is usually defined as being a vector, so you are aware of its direction. But speed is not a vector, only the magnitude of velocity so when asked for speed no sign or direction is required. Impulse, acceleration and momentum don't have separate words for the magnitude so it often isn't clear whether the question requires a sign indicating direction. Both kinds of answer should be accepted in the absence of clarity.
 

Related to What is the required impulse to bring the car to rest?

1. What is impulse?

Impulse is the change in momentum of an object, calculated as the product of its mass and velocity. It is a vector quantity that describes the amount of force applied to an object for a certain amount of time.

2. Can impulse be negative?

Yes, impulse can be negative. This means that the direction of the force is opposite to the direction of the object's motion. A negative impulse can cause an object to slow down or change directions.

3. What factors affect the magnitude of impulse?

The magnitude of impulse is affected by the force applied to an object and the duration of time in which the force is applied. The greater the force and the longer the duration, the greater the magnitude of impulse.

4. How does impulse relate to Newton's Second Law of Motion?

Newton's Second Law of Motion states that the net force applied to an object is equal to the product of its mass and acceleration. Impulse can be used to calculate the change in velocity, which is related to acceleration, and thus is related to Newton's Second Law of Motion.

5. Why is it important to consider the direction of impulse?

The direction of impulse is important because it affects the direction of an object's change in momentum. If the impulse is in the same direction as the object's motion, it will increase the object's momentum. If it is in the opposite direction, it will decrease the object's momentum.

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