Question

In a lab environment, you are investigating the impulse of a force exerted on a brick when the brick's speed is reduced from 2.5 m/s to a complete stop. First, you allow the brick to slam into a secured piece of wood, bringing the brick to a sudden stop. Second, you allow the brick to plow into a large slab of gelatin so that the brick comes to a gradual halt. In which situation is there a greater impulse of the force on the brick?

a. The impulse is the same in both situations.


b. There is a greater impulse of the force on the brick from the gelatin.


c. Not enough information is given to determine the answer.


d. There is a greater impulse of the force on the brick from the wall.

Answer 1

a. The impulse is the same in both situations.

Step-by-step explanation:

As we know that the impulse is defined as the change in momentum

so here we will have

`I = P_f - P_i`

so we will have

`I = m(v - 0)`

in both the case the brick of same mass comes to halt

So final speed is zero while initial speed is same in both cases

only the time interval of stopping the brick is different in both the cases

So here the magnitude of impulse will be same in both case

co correct answer will be

a. The impulse is the same in both situations.