A 20-gram bullet traveling at 250 m/s strikes a block of wood that weighs 2 kg. With what velocity will the block and bullet move after the collision? [convert g to kg]
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Question
A 20-gram bullet traveling at 250 m/s strikes a block of wood that weighs 2 kg. With what velocity will the block and bullet move after the collision? [convert g to kg]
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Answer:
the velocity of the bullet-wood system after the collision is 2.48 m/s
Explanation:
Given;
mass of the bullet, m₀ = 20 g = 0.02 kg
velocity of the bullet, v₀ = 250 m/s
mass of the wood, m₁ = 2 kg
velocity of the wood, v₁ = 0
Let the velocity of the bullet-wood system after collision = v
Apply the principle of conservation of linear momentum to calculate the final velocity of the system;
Initial momentum = final momentum
m₀v₀ + m₁v₁ = v(m₀ + m₁)
0.02 x 250 + 2 x 0 = v(2 + 0.02)
5 + 0 = v(2.02)
5 = 2.02v
v = 5/2.02
v = 2.48 m/s
Therefore, the velocity of the bullet-wood system after the collision is 2.48 m/s