Question

Which requires the greater impulse, stopping something dead in its tracks, or stopping it and then reversing its direction?

1) Stopping something dead in its tracks
2) Stopping it and then reversing its direction

Answer 1

Stopping and then reversing an object's direction requires a greater impulse than stopping it dead in its tracks because the change in velocity is twice as much, thus needing a greater change in momentum.

Step-by-step explanation:

To answer which requires a greater impulse: stopping something dead in its tracks, or stopping it and then reversing its direction, we need to understand the concept of impulse.

Impulse is defined as the change in momentum of an object. Momentum is a product of mass and velocity. When you stop something, you reduce its momentum to zero. However, when you reverse its direction, you not only reduce the object's momentum to zero but also impart new momentum in the opposite direction.

Therefore, stopping and reversing the direction of an object requires a greater impulse since you are changing the velocity of the object twice as much compared to just bringing it to a stop.

This concept ties in with the physics principles of force and conservation of momentum. A force applied over a period of time (impulse) results in a change in momentum. If the initial and final velocities are equal in magnitude but opposite in direction, the overall change in velocity is double for the object that reverses direction, requiring additional impulse.