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Physics Lesson 6.8.2 - Impulse in Two Dimensions

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Welcome to our Physics lesson on Impulse in Two Dimensions, this is the second lesson of our suite of physics lessons covering the topic of Momentum and Impulse in Two Dimensions. Explosions., you can find links to the other lessons within this tutorial and access additional physics learning resources below this lesson.

Impulse in Two Dimensions

We can use the same approach as above for the impulse in two dimensions. Thus, since there is a single collision, there is also a single force exerted by an object to the other (and a single reaction force as well). However, this force extends in two directions and therefore, we must use two equations for the impulse - one for each direction.

We have:

J1 - 2 = F1 - 2 × ∆t = m1 × v01-m1 × v1

and

J2 - 1 = F2 - 1 × ∆t = m2 × v02-m2 × v2

Obviously, we need to calculate only one of the above impulses as J1 - 2 and J2 - 1 are equal and opposite. However, we must write it in components. For example, if we chose to work out the first impulse (J1 - 2), we must write

J1 - 2(x) = F1 - 2(x) × ∆t = m1 × v01(x)-m1 × v1(x)

and

J1 - 2(y) = F1 - 2(y) × ∆t = m1 × v01(y)-m1 × v1(y)

For illustration, let's calculate the force of collision for the situation described in the example of the previous paragraph. Let's suppose the collision lasts for 0.05 s and we are required to find the collision force.

We have:

F1 - 2(x) × ∆t = m1 × v01(x) - m1 × v1(x)
F1 - 2(x) × 0.05 = 0.2 × 4 - 0.2 × 2.4
F1 - 2(x) × 0.05 = 0.8 - 0.48
F1 - 2(x) × 0.05 = 0.32
F1 - 2(x) = 0.32/0.05 = 6.4 N
F1 - 2(y) × ∆t = m1 × v01(y) - m1 × v1(y)
F1 - 2(y) × 0.05 = 0.2 × 0 - 0.2 × (-0.9)
F1 - 2(y) × 0.05 = 0.18
F1 - 2(y) = 0.18/0.05 = 3.6 N

Hence, the force of collision is

|F1 - 2 | = √F1 - 2(x)2 + F1 - 2(y)2
= √6.42 + 3.62
= √41 + 13
= √54
= 7.3 N

The same result is obtained by considering the values of the second ball as well. (Try it!).

You have reached the end of Physics lesson 6.8.2 Impulse in Two Dimensions. There are 3 lessons in this physics tutorial covering Momentum and Impulse in Two Dimensions. Explosions., you can access all the lessons from this tutorial below.

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6.8Momentum and Impulse in Two Dimensions. Explosions.
Lesson IDPhysics Lesson TitleLessonVideo
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6.8.1Momentum in Two Dimensions
6.8.2Impulse in Two Dimensions
6.8.3Explosions

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