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A bullet leaves a rifle with a muzzle velocity of 600 m/s. While accelerating through the barrel of the rifle, the bullet moves a distance of 0.8 m. Determine the acceleration of the bullet.

User Analogue
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Using the kinematic equation, the bullet's acceleration is calculated to be 225,000 m/s² which reflects the significant force exerted on the bullet to reach the reported muzzle velocity.

The student is asking about the acceleration of a bullet as it moves through the rifle barrel until it leaves the rifle at a known muzzle velocity. To find the acceleration, we can use the kinematic equation v² = u² + 2as, where v is the final velocity (600 m/s), u is the initial velocity (0 m/s, assuming the bullet starts from rest), a is the acceleration, and s is the distance traveled (0.8 m).

Since the initial velocity u is zero, the equation simplifies to v² = 2as. Rearranging this equation to solve for a, we get a = v² / (2s). Substituting the given values, a = (600 m/s)² / (2 * 0.8 m). After calculation, the acceleration of the bullet is found to be 225,000 m/s^2.

The bullet undergoes a significant acceleration to attain the high muzzle velocity upon exiting the rifle barrel.

User Adnauseam
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