The position-time graph of a body of mass 2 kg is given in Figure. What is the impulse on the body at t = 0 s and t = 4 s?
Given: mass(m) = 2kg.
Let v1 be the initial velocity, v1 = 0, from the above graph t ≥ 0 to t ≤ 4, viz., a straight line. Hence, the velocity of the body will be constant.
At t ≥ 4, The slope of the graph is zero; hence, the velocity v3 = 0.
Now, impulse =
We know that impulse is the change in momentum. so,
Impulse at t = 0;
= 2[0.75 – 0] = 1.50 kg ms-1
Impulse at t = 4;
= =2 [0 – 0.75] = -1.50 kg ms-1
Therefore, at t = 0, the impulse increases by +1.5kg ms-1, and At t = 4, the impulse decreases by 1.5 kg ms-1.