Final answer:
To find the force exerted upon impact, divide the change in momentum by the time of collision, giving the average force.
Step-by-step explanation:
To calculate the force exerted by an object upon impact with a surface if we know its momentum,
we use the formula force (F) equals the change in momentum (Δp) divided by time interval (Δt).
The change in momentum is equal to the momentum before impact minus the momentum after impact, which is often zero if the object comes to rest after the collision. The time interval is how long the collision lasts. In real-life scenarios like car crashes, a football being punted, or subatomic particle collisions, this could be as short as 1/10th or 1/1000th of a second.
It's essential to understand that this calculation gives the average force during the impact, not the peak force at any specific moment. For example, if a car crashes and its speed changes significantly in a very short time, the average force exerted can be calculated using the car's momentum change divided by the collision time.