Cracking the SAT Physics Subject Test

What is the impulse delivered to the block?

Here’s How to Crack It

The impulse delivered to the block is equal to the area under the curve. The region

is a triangle, so its area, base × height, can be calculated as follows:

J = (10 ms)(20 N) = 0.1 N·s

Getting Impulsive

In a force-vs.-time graph,

the area under the graph

is equal to the impulse, j.

For a graph that’s curved,

use simple geometric