Question

A 90.5-kg cannon is loaded with a 104-gram ball. The cannon is fired and propels the ball forward. A photogate measurement determines that the cannon recoiled backwards with a speed of 20.8 m/s. Determine the speed of the ball.

Answer 1

18100 m/s.

Step-by-step explanation:

conservation of momentum can be applied in solving this question, by using below expresion

mv = MV

where M = mass of recoil of canon =90.5kg

V =velocity of recoil of canon = 20.8 m/s.

m= mass of tennis ball=204g=104x 10⁻³kg

v = velocity of tennis ball

104 x 10⁻³ x v = 90.5 x 20.8

We can make V subject of formula

v = (90.5 x 20.8) / 104 x 10⁻³

v = 18100 m/s.

Hence, the speed of the ball is 18100 m/s.