Rörelimpuls

Rörelimpuls is a term used in certain Swedish-language texts on movement science and robotics to describe the impulse that initiates or modulates a rapid movement. The word combines rörelse (movement) and impuls (impulse).

The term is not widely standardized in international literature, and its exact definition can vary between authors. Broadly, rörelimpuls refers to the momentary impulse associated with onset of movement or with a brief burst of activity in a control system.

In biomechanics and neuromuscular physiology, it is commonly treated as the integral of force over a short time interval, i.e., the force-time impulse, which equals the resulting change in momentum (Δp) of the moving body segment, assuming external forces are accounted for.

Measurement and analysis involve force plates or sensors to obtain force as a function of time, along with motion capture to track displacement and velocity. The impulse can be calculated from the force-time curve or inferred from velocity changes, enabling assessment of how effectively a system or limb generates rapid movement.

Applications include analysis of gait initiation, rapid reaching or throwing movements, and the design of fast-acting actuators in robotics. Because of its ambiguous usage, readers are advised to consult the specific source material for the exact definition and context in which rörelimpuls is used. See also impulse, momentum, biomechanics, neuromuscular control.