Impulse and Momentum, their unit and relationship

[Al-Physya'iy]

Homework Statement

Impulse is defined as: force x time

a) Find its unit expressed in term of the base units.
b) What quantity has the same unit?
What could it mean? (Impulse = change in momentum)

Homework Equations

I = F x T
P = mv

The Attempt at a Solution

a) First, we convert the force into its base unit, and then we solve.

I = F x T
= ML/T^2 x T = ML/T

b) L/T is v so

[F x T] = [mv]
[Impulse] = [Momentum]

Therefore, momentum has the same unit as impulse.

My problem is with the second part of question b. I know without the hint given in parenthesis that impulse and momentum are related, but what is it that they want me to explain? I found the question "What could it mean?" very vague, and I don't really know how I am supposed to answer it.

 

[PeterO]

Homework Statement

Impulse is defined as: force x time

a) Find its unit expressed in term of the base units.
b) What quantity has the same unit?
What could it mean? (Impulse = change in momentum)

Homework Equations

I = F x T
P = mv

The Attempt at a Solution

a) First, we convert the force into its base unit, and then we solve.

I = F x T
= ML/T^2 x T = ML/T

b) L/T is v so

[F x T] = [mv]
[Impulse] = [Momentum]

Therefore, momentum has the same unit as impulse.

My problem is with the second part of question b. I know without the hint given in parenthesis that impulse and momentum are related, but what is it that they want me to explain? I found the question "What could it mean?" very vague, and I don't really know how I am supposed to answer it.

Perhaps they are getting at the idea that the value you get for Impulse, is the value of the change in momentum.
ie impulse is not the same thing as momentum, but the "amount" of impulse certainly equals the "amount" by which the momentum changes - which is why they have the same units.

 

[prajjwals]

Impulse and momentum have same unit means that two different physical quantities can have the same units ALTHOUGH THEY HAVE DIFFERENT NATURE.We can only differentiate between two physical quantities HAVING SAME UNIT ALTHOUGH DIFFERENT NATURE ONLY BY THE WAY IN WHICH THEY ARE DEFINED OR ON WHICH OTHER PHYSICAL QUANTITIES THEY DEPEND ON . For example:

Impulse is defined as------- Force*time or we can say it depends on two physical
quantities(by definition) ,that is, force and time whereas

Momentum is defined as ----------Mass*velocity or we can say it depends on two physical quantities(by definition),that is,mass and velocity. Thus,these two have different nature