Contextualization

Physics, as a science, continuously seeks to explain the natural phenomena that surround us. Among these phenomena, we have the impulse of a force. Before we proceed, let's understand what that is? The impulse of a force is a vector quantity that determines the change in the momentum of a body. This quantity is given by the product of the force applied to the body by the time interval over which this force acts.

There are several practical applications for the concept of impulse. In the automotive industry, for example, it is used in the design of airbags. These devices increase the interaction time between the passenger and the car during a collision, thus reducing the average force the passenger experiences. Similarly, in sports, athletes apply a continuous force to an object for an extended period to increase the object's momentum.

The impulse of a force is related to Newton's Second Law, which deals with the principle of dynamics. Understanding impulse is essential to comprehend the relationship between force and motion and how we can manipulate them to our advantage. The use of airbags in vehicles and sports techniques, such as soccer, basketball, or tennis, are clear examples of how understanding impulse can have practical applications in our daily lives.

To delve deeper into the topic, I suggest the following resources:

1. "Physics - Impulse and Momentum": This PDF provides an overview of the concept of impulse and momentum, including examples and solved exercises.

2. Khan Academy Video - "What is Impulse?": This video explores the relationship between impulse and momentum and provides practical examples that help illustrate the concept.

3. Book "Physics for Scientists and Engineers" - Tipler, P. A., & Mosca, G.: This book provides a detailed understanding of various concepts in Physics, including the impulse of a force.

Practical Activity

Activity Title: Forces in Action: The Physics of Skates

Project Objective

To apply the concept of force impulse and explore the relationship between force, time, and momentum in real life, using the skateboard as a study object.

Detailed Project Description

This project will address the concepts of impulse, forces, momentum, work, and energy. Additionally, it will seek to interconnect these concepts with the discipline of Mathematics through the use of applied calculations and graphical representation.

The project will be divided into three stages: research, experimentation, and report. Students will be divided into groups of 3 to 5 people. The total duration of the project will be approximately 15 hours spread over one week.

Required Materials

• Skateboard
• Stopwatch
• Scale
• Tape measure
• Computer with Internet access
• Paper and pen

Detailed Step-by-Step for Activity Execution

Research (4 hours):

Students should research more about force impulse, forces acting on a skateboard, momentum, work, and energy. They should take notes on the concepts and make summaries to better understand them.

Experimentation (8 hours):

Using a skateboard, tape measure, scale, and stopwatch, students will make observations and measurements:

1. First, they should measure the mass of the skateboard and the selected skater from the group.
2. Next, the skater should start skateboarding on a straight and flat path. The other group members should record the time it takes for the skater to cover a predetermined distance.
3. Repeat the experiment several times, observing and recording the results.

Report (3 hours):

Students should create a report detailing their findings. This report should include:

I. Introduction: Provide context for the topic, explain its relevance and real-world application, and explain the purpose of this project.

II. Development: Explain the theory behind impulse, explaining how it applies to skateboarding. Detail the experimentation procedure, the methodology used, present the results obtained, and discuss them.

III. Conclusion: Summarize the experience and the main points of the work, explicitly stating the learnings obtained and the conclusions drawn from the project.

IV. Bibliography: Indicate the sources they relied on to work on the project such as books, web pages, videos, etc.

Students should submit the printed report and present it to the class, as well as conduct a presentation of the experimentation in the classroom, demonstrating in practice the studied concepts.