Final answer:
The impulse experienced by a 1200kg car coming to a halt in 5 seconds after hitting a wall, with an initial speed of 50m/s, is -60000 kg·m/s. The negative sign indicates the direction of the impulse is opposite to the car's initial motion.
Step-by-step explanation:
The student is asking about the concept of impulse in physics. Impulse is defined as the change in momentum of an object when it is subject to a force over a period of time. For a car of mass 1200kg with an initial speed of 50m/s coming to a halt in 5 seconds after hitting a wall, the impulse experienced by the car can be found using the formula:
Impulse = Change in Momentum = Mass × Change in Velocity
The car comes to a halt, so the final velocity is 0 m/s. Thus, the impulse (I) is:
I = 1200kg × (0 m/s - 50 m/s)
I = -60000 kg·m/s
The negative sign indicates that the impulse acts in the direction opposite to the car's motion. In real-world applications, the concept of impulse is critical for understanding collisions and automobile safety features like airbags, which are designed to extend the time over which a collision occurs to reduce the forces experienced by passengers.