Question

students perform an experiment in which they drop two eggs with equal mass from a balcony. in the first trial, the egg hits the ground and breaks. in the second trial, the egg hits a foam cushion and does not break or bounce. what conclusions about impulse can the students make? the impulse was greater in the first experiment because the egg broke. the impulse was greater in the second experiment because the egg did not break. the impulse was the same in both experiments because the egg came to a stop. the impulse cannot be determined without the mass and velocity of the eggs.

Explanation:

Impulse is equal to the change in momentum. In both cases, the eggs start with the same initial velocity (just before hitting) and end with a velocity of zero (come to a stop). Since they have the same mass and the same change in velocity (from some non - zero value to zero), the change in momentum and thus the impulse is the same in both experiments.

Answer:

The impulse was the same in both experiments because the egg came to a stop.