A2L Item 077
- Description: Identify the correct statements regarding force, impulse, kinetic energy and work.
- Goal: Contrast the concepts of impulse and work.
- Source: UMPERG-ctqpe127
- Keywords: Impulse, Kinetic Energy, Mechanics, Forces, Work
The question for students:
Consider the following statements:
A. If an object receives an impulse, its kinetic energy must change.
B. An object’s kinetic energy can change without it receiving any impulse.
C. An object can receive a net impulse without any work being done on it.
D. A force may do work on an object without delivering any impulse.
Which of the following responses is most appropriate?
- None of the statements are true.
- Only statement A is true.
- Only statement B is true.
- Only statement C is true.
- Only statement D is true.
- Two of the statements are true.
- Three of the statements are true.
- All of the statements are true.
- Cannot be determined.
Commentary for teachers:
Answer
(4) We consider only a simple object with no internal structure. A mass traveling in a circle with constant speed (mass on a string, satellite in circular orbit or marble rolling around a hoop on a horizontal surface) receives a net impulse, say, every quarter circle without any work being done because the force is perpendicular to the motion.
Background
Students need to sort out the difference between impulse (integral of force over time) and work (integral of force over displacement). This question is most easily answered considering the impulse-momentum theorem and the work-kinetic energy theorem. The example mentioned in the answer to demonstrate the truth of statement C also serves to demonstrate the falseness of statement A. As for statement B, if an object’s KE changes its momentum must change so it must have received an impulse. Statement D is also false because if a force does work on the object it must have acted over time.
Questions to Reveal Student Reasoning
A book sits at rest on a table. Does gravity do work on the book? Does gravity provide an impulse?
Compare a satellite in circular orbit around the Earth with a simple pendulum. Does gravity deliver an impulse over a quarter cycle? a half cycle? a whole cycle? Does gravity do work on the object over a quarter cycle? a half cycle? a whole cycle?
Suggestions
Ask students to create physical situations meeting certain specifications. E.g. A situation for which a force acts over a particular time causing a change of momentum but no change in kinetic energy (mass on a spring).