Difference between impulse and magnitude of force

[Za Kh]

we learned about the impulse of a force , but just then a question came to my mind , what's the difference between the magnitude of a force and its impulse , or are they the same ... ??

 

[jtbell]

The magnitude of a (vector) force $\vec F$ is $|\vec F| = \sqrt{F_x^2 + F_y^2 + F_z^2}$. The impulse of the force when it acts for time $\Delta t$ is $\vec F \Delta t$.

 

[Za Kh]

thanks ! :)

 

[Orodruin]

Impulse is the force integrated over time so impulse and force have different physical units. The force relates to the acceleration of an object through Newton's second law while the impulse relates to a total change of momentum over a given time.

 

[sardar]

The magnitude of a force refers to the strength or intensity of the force being applied. It is a measure of how much force is being exerted on an object. On the other hand, the impulse of a force is a measure of the change in momentum of an object due to the force acting on it over a period of time. In other words, impulse takes into account not just the strength of the force, but also the duration of its application.

To better understand the difference, imagine two situations where the same magnitude of force is applied to an object. In the first situation, the force is applied for a short amount of time, while in the second situation, the force is applied for a longer period of time. In both cases, the magnitude of the force remains the same, but the impulse will be greater in the second situation because the force was applied for a longer duration.

In summary, the magnitude of a force and its impulse are related, but they are not the same thing. The magnitude of a force tells us about the strength of the force, while impulse takes into account the duration of its application and its effect on the object's momentum.