Solving Horizontal Displacement of 3.6kg Pendulum

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Homework Help Overview

The discussion revolves around determining the horizontal displacement of a pendulum after it is struck by a bullet. The pendulum has a mass of 3.6 kg and is suspended from a height of 2.8 meters, while the bullet weighs 0.018 kg and travels at a speed of 230 m/s. Participants explore the application of conservation of momentum and energy principles to analyze the motion of the pendulum post-collision.

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  • Mixed

Approaches and Questions Raised

  • Participants discuss using conservation of momentum to find the velocity of the pendulum and bullet combined after the collision. There are attempts to apply conservation of energy to determine how high the pendulum swings and subsequently calculate the horizontal displacement. Some participants express confusion over calculations and the correct application of formulas.

Discussion Status

The discussion is ongoing, with participants sharing their calculations and questioning the accuracy of their results. Some guidance has been offered regarding the application of conservation laws, but there is no explicit consensus on the correct approach or final answer yet.

Contextual Notes

Participants note discrepancies in calculations, particularly regarding the initial velocity used in energy equations. There is also mention of potential typos in expected answers, indicating uncertainty in the problem setup or provided data.

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How would you solve for the horizontal displacement of a 3.6 kg pendulum that hangs from a string 2.8 meters high, which is shot (and embeded) by a 0.018 kg bullet traveling at a velocity of 230 m/s?

I solved for the velocity of the objects together...
mv + mv = mv + mv
18(230) + 3.6(0) = 21.6v
v = 191.7 m/s

If the pendulum swings upward, how do i solve for the horizontal displacement?
 
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Format said:
How would you solve for the horizontal displacement of a 3.6 kg pendulum that hangs from a string 2.8 meters high, which is shot (and embeded) by a 0.018 kg bullet traveling at a velocity of 230 m/s?
Solve it in two steps:
(1) Apply conservation of momentum for the collision
(2) Apply conservation of energy after the collision to see how high it swings. (Then use trig to find the horizontal displacement.)

I solved for the velocity of the objects together...
mv + mv = mv + mv
18(230) + 3.6(0) = 21.6v
v = 191.7 m/s
Huh? Conservation of momentum: [itex]m_1v_1 + m_2v_2 = (m_1 + m_2)v_f[/itex]
 
k ill give that a try, thx.

And the 21.6 is just the 2 masses added, didnt show all my work lol.


Edit: Well there's the problem lol...i put 18-g not 0.018-kg. I got it, thx
 
Last edited:
K, well i lied...i thought i had it but i didnt lol. Can someone help a bit further with this?
 
Initially, the bullet and pendulum have some momentum (the pendulums happens to be zero). Because of conservation of momentum, the momentum of the pendulum and bullet combination will be the same as the initial momentum of the bullet. That way you can get your velocity for the pendulum+bullet.

Next, mechanical energy must be conserved after that. So find your initial kinetic energy. The bob will keep going until all the kinetic energy has been converted into potential energy. See if you can take it from there.
 
K well this is what I've got...

mv + mv = v(m + m)
0.018(230) + 3.6(0) = v(3.618)
v = 1.144 m/s <-- This is the velocity of both the objects together


Then i did...

1/2mv² + mgh = 1/2mv² + mgh <-- masses cancel out
1/2(1.44)² + 0 = 0 + (9.8)h <-- h=0 initially and v=0 at top
h = 0.105 m

Im guessin there is something wrong with this part...
 
Last edited:
Format said:
K well this is what I've got...

mv + mv = v(m + m)
0.018(230) + 3.6(0) = v(3.618)
v = 1.144 m/s <-- This is the velocity of both the objects together


Then i did...

1/2mv² + mgh = 1/2mv² + mgh <-- masses cancel out
1/2(1.44)² + 0 = 0 + (9.8)h <-- h=0 initially and v=0 at top
h = 0.105 m

Im guessin there is something wrong with this part...
that looks right
you can figure out the x displacement with pythagorean theorem, maybe drawing a diagram it will help
 
I did that, but it doesn't give me the correct answer

2.8² - 0.105² = x²

x = 2.7

The answer says 0.61...maybe it was a typo, but that's pretty far off.
 
Typo: wrong speed

Format said:
1/2mv² + mgh = 1/2mv² + mgh <-- masses cancel out
1/2(1.44)² + 0 = 0 + (9.8)h <-- h=0 initially and v=0 at top
h = 0.105 m

Im guessin there is something wrong with this part...
You plugged in the wrong speed. You used 1.44 instead of 1.144.
 

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