Design:
In this lab, the necessary materials were a force-probe ring stand, one sonic range finder, a red cart, and a track slide. The empty red cart was thrown towards the force-probe attached to the ring stand. The cart collided with the force probe. Then, the sonic range finder measured the data and, using the LabQuest device, put it into s Force vs. Time graph. Our group also recorded the cart's velocity before and after the collision.
Reflection:
The data found in our experiment was calculated with the equation for Impulse (J=Pafter-Pbefore). P is the symbol for the momentum (Mass xVelocity). As usual, human error and technical difficulties played a small role in the experiment and has a slight effect on the data. We concurred that greater time minimized the impact of a force. The above diagram illustrates the interwoven relationship between impulse, force, and time.
Real-World Connection:
A bat hitting a ball is an appropriate real-life example of impulse. This is a change of momentum, and momentum is mass times velocity, so any real-life situation where there's a change of velocity (acceleration) there's an impulse.