impulse

Borrowed from Middle French impulser, from Latin impulsus.

For spelling, as in pulse, the -e (on -lse) is so the end is pronounced /ls/, rather than /lz/ as in pulls, and does not change the vowel (‘u’). Compare else, false, convulse.

Noun

impulse (plural impulses)

1. A thrust; a push; a sudden force that impels.
2. 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 book, I couldn't resist the impulse to browse through it.

3. (physics) The integral of force over time.

   The total impulse from the impact will depend on the kinetic energy of the projectile.

Science

• Impulse (physics), the change of momentum of an object; the integral of a force with respect to time
• Impulse function, a mathematical function of an infinitely high amplitude and infinitesimal duration
• Impulse response, a system's output when presented with the impulse function in electrical engineering
• Impulse (psychology), a wish or urge, particularly a sudden one
• Impulsion, a thrust of a horse

Film and television

• Impulse (1954 film), a thriller starring Arthur Kennedy
• Impulse (1974 film), a thriller starring William Shatner
• Impulse (1984 film), a science fiction film starring Meg Tilly and Tim Matheson
• Impulse (1990 film), a thriller starring Theresa Russell
• Impulse (2008 film), a thriller starring Angus Macfadyen
• Impulse (2010 film), an apocalyptic thriller starring Chris Masterson
• Impulse (TV series), a 2018 science fiction series on YouTube Premium
• "Impulse" (Star Trek: Enterprise\{\{--)}}, a TV episode
  • Impulse drive, a fictional form of propulsion in the Star Trek universe

Print media

• Impulse (German magazine)
• Impulse (Steven Gould novel), 2013
• Impulse (Hopkins novel), a 2007 young adult verse novel by Ellen Hopkins
• Impulse (Psionex), a Marvel Comics character
• Impulse (DC Comics), a superhero
• Science Fantasy (magazine), also published as Impulse and SF Impulse

Music

• Impulse (band), a Bulgarian hard rock group
• Impulse! Records, a jazz recording label
• Impulse (Buck Hill album), 1995
• Impulse Drum and Bugle Corps
• Impulse (Erra album), 2011
• "Impulse", a song by Northlane from Node, 2015
• "Impulsive" (song), 1990, by Wilson Phillips

Business

• Impulse Airlines, a former Australian airline
• Impulse (retailer), a UK entertainment retail chain
• Isuzu Impulse, an automobile sold from 1981 through to 1992
• Impulse (body mist), made by Unilever
• Impulse (software), a digital game distribution system
• Impulse purchase (also impulse buying), unplanned buying of goods

Other

• Impulse 21, an American sailboat design
• Impulse (dinghy), a 4.0 m sports sailing dinghy
• Impulse (roller coaster), at Knoebels Amusement Resort in Pennsylvania
• Impulsivity

See also

• Impulse noise (disambiguation)
• Specific impulse, a propulsion efficiency measurement
• Irresistible impulse, a legal defense

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