Exam-style question
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A force-time graph shows a force of 15 N applied for 3 seconds, followed by a force of 5 N applied for 2 seconds. Calculate the total impulse.
Model answer
What a good answer should say
- The total impulse is 55 Ns.
Explanation
Why this works
This question assesses the ability to calculate total impulse from multiple segments of a force-time graph. The impulse from the first segment is 15 N × 3 s = 45 Ns, and from the second segment is 5 N × 2 s = 10 Ns.
Adding these gives a total impulse of 45 Ns + 10 Ns = 55 Ns. The answer is in Newton-seconds, which is the correct unit for impulse.
Common mistake
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