Which physical quantity is defined as the change in momentum of an object over time?

The correct answer is impulse because impulse is mathematically defined as the change in momentum of an object. It represents the product of the force applied to an object and the time duration over which that force is applied. This relationship can be expressed with the impulse-momentum theorem, which states that the impulse experienced by an object is equal to the change in its momentum.

In more detail, if an object has an initial momentum and experiences a force for a certain duration, its final momentum will reflect this force’s influence over time. The impulse, therefore, can be understood as a measure of how much the momentum of the object has changed due to that force acting over the specified time frame. This is particularly important in understanding concepts in dynamics and is foundational in physics for analyzing motion and collisions.

The other choices represent different physical concepts. Force is the interaction that causes acceleration but does not directly quantify changes in momentum without considering time. Energy pertains to the ability to do work and is not related to the change in momentum directly. Acceleration describes how quickly the velocity of an object changes but does not quantify momentum changes over time without referencing force and the duration of application.