Hand Movement and Impulse

In this activity you will experiment with different types of hand motions to gain an intuitive understanding of the relationship between force, time, and impulse.

• one ball
• one tub filled with water

Procedure:

1. Try catching a ball while giving with the ball, pulling your hands toward your body.
2. Next, try catching a ball while keeping your hands still.
3. Hit water in a tub with your full palm. Your full palm represents a swimmer doing a belly flop.
4. After the water has settled, hit the water again by diving your hand with your fingers first into the water. Your diving hand represents a swimmer doing a dive.
5. Explain what happens in each case and why.

What are some other examples of motions that impulse affects?

1. a football player colliding with another, or a car moving at a constant velocity
2. a car moving at a constant velocity, or an object moving in the projectile motion
3. a car moving at a constant velocity, or a racket hitting a ball
4. a football player colliding with another, or a racket hitting a ball