Angular Impulse (College Board AP® Physics 1: Algebra-Based)

Angular impulse

• The change in an object’s motion due to an external torque acting on it for a time is described by angular impulse

  • This is analogous to linear impulse

• Angular impulse is defined as the product of the average torque exerted on an object or rigid system and the time interval during which it acts

• Where:

  • angular impulse is measured in

  • = average torque exerted, measured in

  • = time interval over which the torque acts, measured in

• Angular impulse has the same direction as the net torque exerted on the object or system

• Therefore, when the average torque exerted over a time interval is zero , no angular impulse is exerted on the system