A tow rope exerts a steady westward force on a drifting boat for 20 s.
The impulse on the boat has a size. Does it have a direction too?
Impulse is net force times time: J = FΔt.
The net force is a vector. Time is a plain number, with no direction.
So impulse takes its direction from the force: impulse is a vector, and it points in the direction of the net force.
The rope's force on the boat points west, so the impulse on the boat points west.
A net force on a go-kart points north for 2.0 s. Which direction does the impulse on the go-kart point?
The force's direction decides, not the motion's. A braking force on an eastbound cart points west, so the impulse on the cart points west even while the cart still moves east.
Which feature sets the direction of an impulse?
Side by side: momentum points the way the velocity points; impulse points the way the net force points.
Anouk says: 'A cart rolls east while a braking force acts westward on it. The impulse on the cart points west.' Is Anouk correct?
A net force on a wagon points south for 3.0 s. Which way does the impulse on the wagon point?
Impulse points in the direction of the net force.
The force points south.
The impulse points south.
A mallet exerts a brief downward force on a tent stake. Which way is the impulse on the stake?
The force on the stake points straight down.
The impulse on the stake points straight down.
A player's foot exerts a brief northward net force on a rolling soccer ball. Which statement about the impulse on the ball is correct?
Which list contains only vectors?
A crane cable exerts a steady upward force on a crate for 8.0 s while the crate settles downward. Which way does the impulse from the cable on the crate point?