What Is a Newton Second?

[danago]

Hey. I am having a little trouble differentiating between Newtons per second ($N s^{-1}$) and Newton seconds (N s). I know that N/s is a measurement of a certain number of Newtons over a period of 1 second, but could someone please explain what a Newton second is?

Thanks,
Dan.

 

[e(ho0n3]

Ns is a unit used to quantify momentum.

 

[danago]

momentum? I thought momentum was usually measured in kg m/s? ISnt Ns used to measure impulse?

 

[e(ho0n3]

Well, N = kg m / s^2 and Ns ends up being kg m / s.

 

[berkeman]

So what are units of N/s used for? N*m/s would be power, so N/s is power per distance? Where did you see these units pop up, danago?

 

[danago]

For impulse. Since $I=F \Delta t$, therefore, its unit would be Ns wouldn't it?

 

[Hootenanny]

Yes, Newton-seconds is the unit of impulse. However, I can see where the confusion arose with respect to momentum, since the change in momentum is equal to the impulse.