a 2 kilogram rifle initially at rest fires a 0.002 kilogram bullet. as the bullet leaves the rifle with a velocity of 500 meters per second, what is the momentum of the rifle bullet system?
isn't the answer one because final momentum minus initial momentum is 1-0 which is one
To find the momentum of the rifle-bullet system, we need to calculate the total momentum of the rifle and the bullet individually, and then add them together.
The momentum of an object can be calculated using the formula: momentum = mass * velocity.
First, let's calculate the momentum of the bullet:
Mass of the bullet = 0.002 kg
Velocity of the bullet = 500 m/s
Momentum of the bullet = 0.002 kg * 500 m/s = 1 kg*m/s
Next, let's calculate the momentum of the rifle:
Mass of the rifle = 2 kg (given)
Initial velocity of the rifle = 0 m/s (initially at rest)
Momentum of the rifle = 2 kg * 0 m/s = 0 kg*m/s
Now, we can find the total momentum of the rifle-bullet system by adding the individual momentums:
Total momentum = Momentum of the bullet + Momentum of the rifle
Total momentum = 1 kg*m/s + 0 kg*m/s = 1 kg*m/s
So, the momentum of the rifle-bullet system is 1 kg*m/s, not just one.