Ballistics -- How deep does the bullet penetrate into the wood?

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Homework Help Overview

The discussion revolves around a problem in ballistics, specifically calculating the penetration distance of a bullet into wood based on given parameters such as mass, velocity, and frictional force.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory, Assumption checking

Approaches and Questions Raised

  • Participants discuss the application of the formula for penetration distance and question the interpretation of significant figures versus decimal places. There is also a realization regarding the units of measurement for the final answer.

Discussion Status

The discussion has progressed with some participants providing helpful guidance regarding the interpretation of the answer's format. There is an acknowledgment of a potential misunderstanding about the units used in the calculation.

Contextual Notes

Participants are navigating the nuances of significant figures and unit conversions, which may affect the final answer's presentation. There is a language translation aspect that could influence the clarity of terms used in the problem.

duchuy
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Homework Statement
How deep in a tree would a mass m firearm projectile penetrate at velocity v0 if the frictional force between the projectile and the wood is C ?
Relevant Equations
d = mv^2 / 2C
Hi, I was given this exercice where I have to calculate the penetration distance, knowing that m = 20g, v = 300km/h and C = 750 N and I have to give the results with two significant numbers. I really thought that all I had to do was replace the values so I did :
d = (20.10^-3) x (300/3,6)^2 / 2x750 and I ended up with d = 0,0925925925...
But when I entered the answer with two significant figures = 0,093, the answer was wrong.
Please help me find me find my mistake thank you so much!
Sorry if i have misused any term, I translated this from french.
 
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duchuy said:
Homework Statement:: How deep in a tree would a mass m firearm projectile penetrate at velocity v0 if the frictional force between the projectile and the wood is C ?
Relevant Equations:: d = mv^2 / 2C

Hi, I was given this exercice where I have to calculate the penetration distance, knowing that m = 20g, v = 300km/h and C = 750 N and I have to give the results with two significant numbers. I really thought that all I had to do was replace the values so I did :
d = (20.10^-3) x (300/3,6)^2 / 2x750 and I ended up with d = 0,0925925925...
But when I entered the answer with two significant figures = 0,093, the answer was wrong.
Please help me find me find my mistake thank you so much!
Sorry if i have misused any term, I translated this from french.
It looks right. It might be two decimal places, rather than two significant figures. Or, the answer in cm?
 
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oh my god the answer is actually in cm, thank you so much! how'd you figure that out...?
 
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duchuy said:
oh my god the answer is actually in cm, thank you so much! how'd you figure that out...?
I'm clever with things like that!
 
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Likes   Reactions: berkeman, Steve4Physics and duchuy

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