Step 1: Calculate the speed at which the bullet leaves the rifle using the principle of conservation of momentum.
Let mb be the mass of the bullet, mr be the mass of the rifle.
Let ub and ur be their initial velocities, and vb and vr be their final velocities.
Given:
mb=20g=0.020 kg
mr=3 kg
ub=0 m/s (rifle is stationary)
ur=0 m/s (rifle is stationary)
vr=−1.4 m/s (recoils, so opposite direction to bullet)
According to the conservation of momentum:
mbub+mrur=mbvb+mrvr
(0.020kg)(0m/s)+(3kg)(0m/s)=(0.020kg)vb+(3kg)(−1.4m/s)
0=0.020vb−4.2
0.020vb=4.2
vb=0.0204.2
vb=210 m/s
The speed at which the bullet leaves the rifle is the magnitude of vb.
The speed is ∗210m/s∗
Step 2: Calculate the magnitude of the average force exerted by the block on the bullet.
The bullet enters the block with the speed calculated in Step 1 and comes to rest.
Given:
Mass of bullet mb=0.020 kg
Initial velocity of bullet u=210 m/s
Final velocity of bullet v=0 m/s
Distance travelled s=0.4 m
First, calculate the acceleration (a) of the bullet using a kinematic equation:
v2=u2+2as
(0m/s)2=(210m/s)2+2a(0.4m)
0=44100+0.8a
0.8a=−44100
a=0.8−44100
a=−55125m/s2
The negative sign indicates deceleration.
Next, calculate the average force (F) using Newton's Second Law:
F=mba
F=(0.020kg)(−55125m/s2)
F=−1102.5 N
The magnitude of the average force is the absolute value of F.
The magnitude of the average force exerted by the block on the bullet is ∗1102.5N∗
Step 3: Compare the magnitude of the force calculated in QUESTION 4.2 to the magnitude of the force exerted by the bullet on the block.
According to Newton's Third Law of Motion, for every action, there is an equal and opposite reaction. The force exerted by the block on the bullet and the force exerted by the bullet on the block are an action-reaction pair. Therefore, their magnitudes are equal.
The magnitude of the force calculated in QUESTION 4.2 compared to the magnitude of the force exerted by the bullet on the block is ∗THESAME∗