This problem deals with a method for measuring the muzzle velocity of a rifle. A rifle with unknown muzzle velocity v0 fires a bullet with mass m into a large block of wood with mass M that is sitting on a horizontal surface. The velocity of the block right after the (inelastic) collision is v. The block then slides a distance d along the surface and comes to a stop. The coefficient of kinetic friction between the block of wood and the surface is mk. (a) Use conservation of momentum (during the collision) and the work-energy theorem (after the collision) to show that the muzzle velocity of the rifle is given by: ?0= (?+??) √2 ?kgd (b) Calculate the muzzle velocity of the rifle if m = 5.00 g, M = 1.20 kg, d = 14.6 cm, and mk = 0.56. [answer: v0 = 305 m/s]
This problem deals with a method for measuring the muzzle velocity of a rifle. A rifle with unknown muzzle velocity v0 fires a bullet with mass m into a large block of wood with mass M that is sitting on a horizontal surface. The velocity of the block right after the (inelastic) collision is v. The block then slides a distance d along the surface and comes to a stop. The coefficient of kinetic friction between the block of wood and the surface is mk.
(a) Use conservation of momentum (during the collision) and the work-energy theorem (after the collision) to show that the muzzle velocity of the rifle is given by:
?0= (?+??) √2 ?kgd
(b) Calculate the muzzle velocity of the rifle if m = 5.00 g, M = 1.20 kg, d = 14.6 cm, and mk = 0.56. [answer: v0 = 305 m/s]
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