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A bullet of mass 8.68 g that is moving at a speed of 463 m/s embeds itself into a tree, penetrating 16.3 cm into the wood.

What is the magnitude of the average force, in N, exerted by the tree on the bullet?

F =________N

1 Answer

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Final answer:

To find the magnitude of the average force exerted by the tree on the bullet, we can use the concept of impulse. Impulse is defined as the change in momentum of an object and can be calculated by multiplying the force applied to an object by the time interval over which it is applied. The bullet embeds itself into the tree, which means its final velocity is zero. We can calculate the initial velocity of the bullet using the given mass and speed. The initial momentum of the bullet is then the product of its mass and initial velocity. The change in momentum is equal to the initial momentum. Rearranging the equation, we can find the magnitude of the average force exerted on the bullet: Force = Impulse / Time. Substituting the known values of impulse and time, we can calculate the force exerted by the tree on the bullet.

Step-by-step explanation:

To find the magnitude of the average force exerted by the tree on the bullet, we can use the concept of impulse. Impulse is defined as the change in momentum of an object and can be calculated by multiplying the force applied to an object by the time interval over which it is applied.

The bullet embeds itself into the tree, which means its final velocity is zero. We can calculate the initial velocity of the bullet using the given mass and speed. The initial momentum of the bullet is then the product of its mass and initial velocity.

The change in momentum is equal to the initial momentum, which can be solved using the equation:

Impulse = Force x Time

Rearranging the equation, we can find the magnitude of the average force exerted on the bullet:

Force = Impulse / Time

Substituting the known values of impulse and time, we can calculate the force exerted by the tree on the bullet.

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