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A 1.8 g bullet with velocity 360 m/s strikes a block of wood and comes to rest after moving 10 cm into the block.

How large was the decelerating force that caused it to stop?

1 Answer

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The decelerating force that caused the block of wood to stop, given that it moved 10 cm, is -1166.4 N

How to calculated the decelerating force?

To answer this question, we shall begin by calculating the decleration of the block of wood. This is shown below:

  • Initial velocity (u) = 360 m/s
  • Distance (s) = 10 cm = 10 / 100 = 0.1 m
  • Final velocity (v) = 0 m/s
  • Deceleration of block of wood (a) = ?

v² = u² + 2as

0² = 360² + (2 × a × 0.1)

0 = 129600 + 0.2a

0 - 129600 = 0.2a

-129600 = 0.2a

Divide both side by 0.2

a = -129600 / 0.2a

a = -648000 m/s²

Finally, we shall calculate the decelerating force that caused the block to stop. Detail; below:

  • Mass of block (m) = 1.8 g = 1.8 / 1000 = 0.0018 Kg
  • Deceleration of block (a) = -648000 m/s²
  • Decelerating force (F) =?

Decelerating force = mass × deceleration

= 0.0018 × -648000

= -1166.4 N

User Matan Shushan
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