Impulse

What is impulse?

Impulse ($\Delta p$) is the product of force and the time during which it acts and reflects the duration of momentum (hence the $\Delta$):

$$Impulse \ = F \Delta t = \Delta p$$ (64.4)

Where $F$ is the force in Newtons (N), $\Delta t$ is the duration of time during which the force acts in seconds (s) and $\Delta p$ is the change in momentum which occurs in newton-seconds. Note: $F$ and $\Delta t$ are inversely related for a given impulse. Also, a no-brainer, but don't forget that $F=ma$ where $m$ is the mass in kilograms (kg) and $a$ is the acceleration in ${m}/{s^{2}}$.)

A real-world example is car airbags: Airbags increase the $\Delta t$ and thereby decrease the magnitude of the force transmitted to the vehicle occupant.