Impulse Calculations With Graphs
So, we found that the impulse imparted upon the golf ball by the golf club is just equal to the area under its Force Versus Time graph. So, we just need to multiply the length of the green rectangle in the image at the right by its width in order to find the impulse imparted upon the ball by the club.
Length x Width = (2 Newtons) x (5 seconds) = 10 N*s The impulse imparted upon the golf ball by the golf club is equal to 10 N*s. |
In general, the above is true: the impulse imparted upon an object by a given force is just equal to the area under its Force Versus Time graph.