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Impulse vs Momentum - What's the difference?

impulse | momentum |

In physics terms the difference between impulse and momentum

is that impulse is the integral of force over time while momentum is (of a body in motion) The tendency of a body to maintain its inertial motion; the product of its mass and velocity.

As nouns the difference between impulse and momentum

is that impulse is a thrust; a push; a sudden force that impels while momentum is (of a body in motion) The tendency of a body to maintain its inertial motion; the product of its mass and velocity.

As a verb impulse

is to impel; to incite.

impulse

English

(wikipedia impulse)

Noun

(en noun)
  • A thrust; a push; a sudden force that impels.
  • * S. Clarke
    • All spontaneous animal motion is performed by mechanical impulse .
  • A wish or urge, particularly a sudden one prompting action.
    • The impulse to learn drove me to study night and day.
    When I saw the new dictionary, I couldn't resist the impulse to browse through it.
  • * Dryden
    • These were my natural impulses for the undertaking.
  • * {{quote-book, year=1907, author=
    • , title=The Dust of Conflict , chapter=20 citation , passage=Tony's face expressed relief, and Nettie sat silent for a moment until the vicar said “It was a generous impulse , but it may have been a momentary one,
  • (physics) The integral of force over time.
    • The total impulse from the impact will depend on the kinetic energy of the bullet.

    Derived terms

    * impulse buy * nerve impulse * on impulse

    Related terms

    * impel * impulsion * impulsive * impulsively * impulsiveness * impulsor * pulse

    References

    * * * [ impulse in the Online Etymology Dictionary]

    Verb

    (impuls)
  • (obsolete) To impel; to incite.
    • (Alexander Pope)
    ----

    momentum

    English

    (wikipedia momentum)

    Noun

    (en-noun)
  • (physics) (of a body in motion) The tendency of a body to maintain its inertial motion; the product of its mass and velocity.
  • The impetus, either of a body in motion, or of an idea or course of events. (i.e: a moment)
  • * 1843, Nathaniel Hawthorne, "The Old Apple Dealer", in Mosses from an Old Manse
    • The travellers swarm forth from the cars. All are full of the momentum which they have caught from their mode of conveyance.
  • * 1882, Thomas Hardy, Two on a Tower
    • Their intention to become husband and wife, at first halting and timorous, had accumulated momentum with the lapse of hours, till it now bore down every obstacle in its course.
  • * '>citation