Final answer:
Impulse and change in momentum are equal to each other; both are vector quantities and directly correlated. The impulse of an object is used to find its change in momentum, and this change reflects the force applied over time according to the impulse-momentum theorem.
Step-by-step explanation:
The relationship between impulse and change in momentum is that they are equal to each other. In physics, momentum is the product of an object's mass and its velocity. An impulse occurs when a force acts on the object for a specific amount of time, resulting in a change in the object's momentum. This is captured by the impulse-momentum theorem, which can be represented by the equation j = Δp = m(vf - vi), where 'j' stands for impulse, 'Δp' represents the change in momentum, 'm' is the mass, 'vf' is the final velocity, and 'vi' is the initial velocity.
It is important to note that both impulse and momentum are vector quantities, meaning not only the magnitude but also the direction of these variables are significant. Considering the direction, one can use the impulse equation to calculate the change in momentum, and conversely, knowing either the initial or final momentum enables one to determine the other. This is because impulse directly correlates with change in momentum; it is not the rate of change of momentum, nor solely the product of mass and velocity, nor the difference between final and initial momenta, but rather it is the change itself.