Kinetic Energy Lost in Bullet Penetrating Can

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Homework Help Overview

The problem involves a bullet penetrating a pop can, focusing on the conservation of momentum and the calculation of kinetic energy lost during the process. The subject area includes concepts from mechanics, specifically relating to kinetic energy and momentum.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory, Mathematical reasoning, Assumption checking

Approaches and Questions Raised

  • The original poster attempts to calculate initial and final momentum, as well as kinetic energy lost, but expresses uncertainty about the correct approach to find the energy lost. Other participants suggest reviewing the setup of the equations and provide alternative formulations.

Discussion Status

The discussion is active, with participants exploring different ways to set up the equations related to kinetic energy and momentum. Some guidance has been offered regarding the formulation of the equations, but no consensus has been reached on the correct method to calculate the kinetic energy lost.

Contextual Notes

The original poster mentions using an online program for calculations, indicating potential constraints or specific requirements imposed by the homework context.

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Problem:

A bullet of mass 0.018 kg and initial speed 300 m/s penetrates an initially stationary pop can of mass 0.055 kg and emerges with a speed 200 m/s.

A) What is the initial momentum of the bullet and pop can system?
I found this answer by 0.018 * 300 = 5.6

B) What is the final momentum of the bullet?
I found this answer by 0.018 * 200 = 3.6

C) How fast is the can moving after the bullet emerges?
I found this answer by 0.018(300-200) and then took that quantity and divided it by 0.055 = 32.73 m/s

D) How much kinetic energy was lost (to heat, sound, deformation of can and bullet,...) in the process? Give your answer as a positive number.

Here is my problem. I don't know how to obtain this. I thought that maybe I could calculate it by KE1 + KE2 = KE1 + KE2 where the left side of the equation is before the collision and the right side is after. Then when I add the right side, it is a little off from the left, so I thought that was the KE lost. However, the online program I'm using says it isn't. What am I doing wrong or how can I go about achieving this?
 
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I think you have the right idea. Perhaps you missed something setting up your equation - can you show it with numerical values filled in?
 
This is what I got:

(1/2)m1v1 + (1/2)m2v2 = (1/2)m1v1 + (1/2)m2v2
(1/2)(0.018)(300^2) + (1/2)(0.055)(0^2) = (1/2)(0.018)(200^2) + (1/2)(0.055)(32.73^2)

From this I get 810 = 389.46
where 810 - 389.46 = 420.54 Lost ??
 
nevermind, answered my own question, lol. Thanks!
 
Yeah, you might want to set up the equation like this:
[tex]KE_f=KE_0+\Delta E[/tex]
So that you end up solving for an unknown rather than setting up a broken equality.
 

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