Homework Help: Science: Physics

Posted by Joan on Thursday, January 6, 2011 at 12:09am.

A physics teacher shoots a .30 caliber rifle at a 0.47 kg block of wood. The rifle and wood are mounted on separate carts that sit atop an air track (like a linear air hockey table--ie. frictionless). The 5.7 kg rifle fires a 27 gram bullet at 227 m/s in the positive direction.
What would be the velocity of the rifle after the bullet is fired?
And, what would be the velocity of the block of wood with the bullet lodged inside?

Science: Physics - drwls, Thursday, January 6, 2011 at 12:16am
The total momentum of gun and bullet after firing remains zero. That means the momentum of the bullet and the gun are equal and opposite in sign.

Let V be the recoil velocity of the gun
5.7*V = 0.027*227

Solve for V.

Momemtum of bullet and block are the same before and after impact.

227*0.027 = (0.47 +0.027)*Vfinal

Solve for Vfinal/

Answer this Question

Related Questions

physics - A 30-06 caliber hunting rifle fires a bullet of mass 0.0118 kg with a ...
Physics - A .22 rifle bullet, traveling at 373m/s, strikes a block of soft wood...
physics - A rifle that shoots bullets at 460 m/s is to be aimed at a target 47.0...
physics - A 3.6 kg wood block is launched up a wooden ramp that is inclined at a...
physics - A block of wood of mass 6.0 kg slides along a skating rink at 12.5 m/s...
physics - A block of wood of mass 6.0 kg slides along a skating rink at 12.5 m/s...
Physics - A rifle with a mass of 1.2 kg fires a bullet with a mass of 6.0 (0....
Physics - A 0.13 kg bullet traveling at 614 m/s hits a 5.7 kg block of wood and ...
Physics - For this problem, ignore air resistance. You are to fire a rifle that ...
Physics - The fastest bird is the spine-tailed swift, which reaches speeds of ...

For Further Reading

First Name:
School Subject:
Answer: