Impulse Calculations With Graphs
If we draw a vertical line which connects the right-hand side of the Force Versus Time graph with the horizontal (time) axis, then the graph, the vertical line, and the axes together form a rectangle. See the image at the right. The length of each vertical side of the rectangle represents the force exerted by the club on the ball, and the length of each horizontal side of the rectangle represents the time over which the force acts. We know that if we want to find the area of a rectangle, we multiply the length of the rectangle by its width. Let's say that the length of our rectangle is vertical and its width is horizontal. Then, the area of our rectangle is just the length of one of its vertical sides multiplied by the length of one of its horizontal sides. In addition, the length of each vertical side represents the force by the club on the ball, and the length of each horizontal side represents the time over which the force acts. Thus, the area of our rectangle is equal to the force by the club on the ball multiplied by the time over which the force acts. |
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What Does the Area Under the Force Versus Time Graph Represent? Self-Quiz
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