Calculating Force from Constant Velocity Collision

[cragar]

how would we calculate the force if something was moving at a constant velocity
and hit a wall or the ground , i know that if the velocity was constant there is no force but if it hit a wall or something , would this just be a change in momentum p=mv

 

[Pengwuino]

This is a common question. The net force exerted on an object is equal to \frac{{dp}}{{dt}}. You need to know the time interval that the force (ie the something changing velocity) acted upon in order to determine what hte force's magnitude was.

 

[granpa]

its easier to determine the 'impulse' instead.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Impulse