Ballistic Pendulum Rifle: Solving for Post-Collision Height

AI Thread Summary
To solve the ballistic pendulum problem, first determine the speed of the pendulum-bullet system immediately after the collision using momentum conservation, as energy is not conserved during the collision. The combined mass of the pendulum and bullet is crucial for this calculation. After finding the velocity, apply energy conservation principles to calculate the maximum height reached by the pendulum-bullet combination, using the potential energy formula PE = mgh. The process involves two stages: the collision and the subsequent rise of the pendulum. Understanding the distinction between kinetic and potential energy is essential for solving the problem effectively.
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The problem:

https://tycho-s.phys.washington.edu/cgi/courses/shell/common/showme.pl?courses/phys121/autumn08/homework/06/IE_algebra_ballistic_pendulum_MOM/pic.gif

A rifle bullet of mass m = 0.03 kg traveling at vb = 240 m/s collides with and embeds itself in a pendulum of mass M = 2.88 kg, initially at rest and suspended vertically by massless strings of length L = 2 m.

How high does the pendulum-bullet combination rise after the collision?

I don't know the process for solving this equation, so help would be appreciated.
 
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Energy preservation. Kinetic gets converted into potential.
 
Okay, so I need to use PE = mgh. I don't understand what I do with the velocity of the bullet and how to setup the problem, if I could get a little more guidance it would help me out

Thanks.
 
What is formula for kinetic energy?
 
We did this the other day, except we just manipulated the formulas instead of working with actual values.
I am going to attempt to make sense of what I have for that note, so you may hear from me soon...
 
Borek said:
What is formula for kinetic energy?

KE = (1/2)mv2
 
Is there something you still don't know? Just beware which mass is which - ballistic pendulum mass after hit is that of pendulum PLUS bullet.
 
Borek said:
Is there something you still don't know? Just beware which mass is which - ballistic pendulum mass after hit is that of pendulum PLUS bullet.

I don't understand what it is I do with the equation for Kinetic Energy, I'm supposed to find the height of the bullet-pendulum system after the bullet hits the pendulum.
 
h as of mgh.
 
  • #10
This problem is best solved in two stages:
(1) The collision itself. You need to find the speed of the block+bullet immediately after the collision. Hint: Energy is not conserved, but something else is.
(2) The rising of the pendulum after the collision. Here you do use energy conservation, as Borek explains.
 
  • #11
Doc Al said:
Hint: Energy is not conserved, but something else is.

Do we have an emoticon for selffishslapping? :blushing:
 

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