EngiRef / Mechanical Engineering Formula
Impulse
Impulse: Change in momentum from force over time. A Dynamics formula in mechanical engineering. Variables J, F and Δt, each with SI and imperial units.
Dynamics
Specification
- Name
- Impulse
- Discipline
- mechanical
- Category
- Dynamics
- LaTeX
- J = F \cdot \Delta t
- Description
- Change in momentum from force over time
- Conditions
- Use for constant or average force over the interval
- Can solve for
- J, F, Δt
- Tags
- impulse, force, time, momentum
Variables
| Symbol | Name | Unit | Si Unit | Imperial Unit |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| J | Impulse | N·s | N·s | - |
| F | Force | N | N | lbf |
| Δt | Time Interval | s | s | - |
Common questions
- What is the Impulse formula?
- Change in momentum from force over time. It sits under Dynamics, Mechanical engineering in the EngiRef reference.
- What do the symbols in the Impulse formula mean?
- In Impulse, J is impulse in N·s; F is force in N; Δt is time interval in s.
- When does the Impulse formula apply?
- Impulse holds under this condition: Use for constant or average force over the interval.