When a gun (3 kg) shoots a bullet (.025 kg), the bullet goes forward and the gun recoils backward. Which of the following statements is true?
Select one:
a. The force pushing the gun backwards is smaller than the force pushing the bullet forward.
b. Both objects accelerate at the same rate, but the mass of the gun is bigger.
c. The force pushing the bullet forward is bigger than the force pushing the gun backwards.
d. The gun has more inertia
Please condense to one post. Yet again apply the concepts you've learned. This is simple please do not people's time.
We have not learned this. I don't know where to start.
To determine which statement is true, let's analyze the situation using Newton's third law of motion, which states that for every action, there is an equal and opposite reaction.
In the case of a gun shooting a bullet, when the gun is fired, the bullet experiences a forward force due to the expanding gases propelling it out of the barrel. Simultaneously, according to Newton's third law, an equal and opposite force is exerted on the gun, causing it to recoil backward.
Now let's examine the given statements:
a. The force pushing the gun backwards is smaller than the force pushing the bullet forward.
This statement is incorrect because, according to Newton's third law, the force exerted on the gun is equal and opposite to the force exerted on the bullet. Therefore, the force pushing the gun backward is equal in magnitude to the force pushing the bullet forward.
b. Both objects accelerate at the same rate, but the mass of the gun is bigger.
This statement is also incorrect because the acceleration experienced by an object is inversely proportional to its mass when a constant force is applied. In this scenario, the bullet, having a smaller mass, will experience a greater acceleration than the gun.
c. The force pushing the bullet forward is bigger than the force pushing the gun backwards.
This statement is incorrect because, as mentioned earlier, according to Newton's third law, the forces exerted on the bullet and the gun are equal in magnitude but opposite in direction. So, the force pushing the bullet forward is the same as the force pushing the gun backward.
d. The gun has more inertia.
This statement is true. Inertia is the property of an object to resist changes in its motion. It is directly related to an object's mass. The gun has a greater mass (3 kg) compared to the bullet (0.025 kg). Therefore, the gun has more inertia, which means it is more difficult to accelerate or decelerate compared to the bullet.
In conclusion, the correct statement is:
d. The gun has more inertia.