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Physics collisions?

A 0.0210 kg bullet moving horizontally at 450 m/s embeds itself into an initially stationary 0.500 kg block.

(a)

What is their velocity (in m/s) just after the collision?

Correct: Your answer is correct.

m/s

(b)

The bullet-embedded block slides 8.0 m on a horizontal surface with a 0.30 kinetic coefficient of friction. Now what is its velocity (in m/s)?

Correct: Your answer is correct.

m/s

(c)

The bullet-embedded block now strikes and sticks to a stationary 2.00 kg block. How far (in m) does this combination travel before stopping?

2 Answers

Relevance
  • NCS
    Lv 7
    2 years ago
    Favorite Answer

    (a) conserve momentum

    0.0210kg * 450m/s + 0 = 0.5210kg * V

    solves to

    V = 18.1 m/s

    but you apparently knew that.

    (b) initial KE = ½ * 0.521kg * (18.1m/s)² = 85.7 J

    friction work W = µmgd = 0.3 * 0.521kg * 9.8m/s² * 8.0m = 12.3 J

    and so the remaining KE is

    KE' = (85.7 - 12.3) J = 73.4 J = ½ * 0.521kg * v²

    and so the new velocity is

    v = 16.8 m/s

    which you apparently also knew.

    (c) conserve momentum again:

    0.521kg * 16.8m/s + 0 = 2.521kg * U

    U = 3.47 m/s

    so new KE is

    KE" = ½ * 2.521kg * (3.47m/s)² = 15.2 J

    What distance is required to do this much friction work?

    15.2 J = 0.3 * 2.521kg * 9.8m/s² * d

    solves to

    d = 2.05 m

    Hope this helps!

  • 2 years ago

    Momentum is conserved in a collision.

    Initial momentum = 0.0210 * 450 = 9.45 kg * m/s

    Total mass = 0.0210 + 0.5 = 0.521 kg

    Final momentum = 0.521 * v

    0.521 * v = 9.45

    v = 9.45 ÷ 0.521

    Their velocity is approximately 18.1 m/s

    \(b)

    The bullet-embedded block slides 8.0 m on a horizontal surface with a 0.30 kinetic coefficient of friction. Now what is its velocity (in m/s)?

    The friction force causes the bullet-embedded block to decelerate.

    Ff = -0.3 * 0.521 * 9.8 = -1.53174 N

    a = -1.53174 ÷ 0.521 = -2.94 m/s^2

    Let’s use the following equation to determine its velocity.

    vf^2 = vi^2 + 2 * a * d

    vf^2 = (9.45 ÷ 0.521)^2 + 2 * -2.94 * 8

    vf = √[((9.45 ÷ 0.521)^2 – 47.04]

    Their velocity is approximately 16.8 m/s.

    The bullet-embedded block now strikes and sticks to a stationary 2.00 kg block. How far (in m) does this combination travel before stopping?

    Initial momentum = 9.45 kg * m/s

    Total mass = 0.521 + 2 = 2.521 kg

    Final momentum = 2.521 * v

    2.521 * v = 9.45

    v = 9.45 ÷ 2.521

    Their velocity is approximately 3.75 m/s. The acceleration is still -2.94 m/s^2. Let’s use the following equation to determine the distance they move.

    vf^2 = vi^2 + 2 * a * d

    0 = (9.45 ÷ 2.521)^2 + 2 * -2.94 * d

    5.88 * d = (9.45 ÷ 2.521)^2

    d = (9.45 ÷ 2.521)^2 ÷ 5.88

    The distance is approximately 2.39 meters. I hope this is helpful for you.

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