What is the effect of an impulse on an object?

An impulse on an object causes a change in its momentum.

When an object experiences an impulse, it undergoes a change in momentum. The impulse-momentum theorem states that the impulse acting on an object is equal to the change in momentum of the object. Mathematically, this can be expressed as:

I = Δp

where I is the impulse, and Δp is the change in momentum. The units of impulse are Ns (newton-seconds), while the units of momentum are kg m/s (kilogram meters per second).

The magnitude of the impulse can be calculated using the formula:

I = FΔt

where F is the force applied to the object, and Δt is the time interval over which the force is applied. This formula assumes that the force is constant over the time interval. If the force is not constant, the impulse can be calculated by integrating the force over time.

The direction of the impulse is the same as the direction of the force. Therefore, if a force is applied in the opposite direction to the object's motion, the impulse will cause the object to slow down. If the force is applied in the same direction as the object's motion, the impulse will cause the object to speed up.

In summary, an impulse on an object causes a change in its momentum, which can be calculated using the impulse-momentum theorem. The magnitude and direction of the impulse depend on the force applied and the time interval over which it is applied.