Question

A 7.00 g bullet moving at 756 m/s strikes

a) A wooden block
b) A steel plate
c) A gelatin target
d) A water-filled container

Answer 1

The 7.00 g bullet moving at 756 m/s is likely to penetrate a wooden block (Option a).

Step-by-step explanation:

To determine the material the bullet will likely penetrate, we can use the concept of stopping power. Stopping power depends on the material's ability to decelerate the bullet, which is influenced by factors like density and hardness.

The kinetic energy
`(\(KE\))` of the bullet can be calculated using the formula
`\(KE = (1)/(2)mv^2\),` where (m) is the mass of the bullet and \(v\) is its velocity. Substituting the given values, we get
`\(KE = (1)/(2) * 0.007 \, \text{kg} * (756 \, \text{m/s})^2\).` Calculate this to find the kinetic energy.

Now, the material the bullet will penetrate depends on the ability of the material to absorb this kinetic energy. Different materials have different capacities to absorb energy, and this is where the specifics of the materials (wooden block, steel plate, gelatin, water) come into play. Typically, softer materials like wood might absorb less energy compared to denser and harder materials like steel.