Question

a bullet is fired with a horizontal velocity of 500 m/sec. it passes through a 3-kg block of wood, a, and becomes embedded in a second, 2.5-kg block of wood, b. the bullet causes blocks a and b to start moving to the right with velocities of 3 m/sec and 5 m/sec, respectively. the mass (g) of the bullet is most nearly:

Answer 1

The mass of the bullet is approximately 341 g.

To find the mass of the bullet, we can use the principle of conservation of momentum. When the bullet passes through block A and becomes embedded in block B, momentum is conserved.

Let the mass of the bullet be 'm' kg.

Initial momentum = Final momentum

(500 m/s)(3 kg) + (500 m/s)(2.5 kg) = (3 m/s)(3 kg) + (5 m/s)(2.5 kg) + (m kg)(8 m/s)

1500 + 1250 = 9 + 12.5 + 8m

2750 = 21.5 + 8m

8m = 2728.5

m ≈ 341 g

Therefore, the mass of the bullet will be approximately 341 g.