Block- spring- bullet- harmonic motion

Click For Summary
SUMMARY

The discussion centers on calculating various parameters of a block-spring-bullet system undergoing simple harmonic motion. A 10 kg block is attached to a spring and is impacted by a 9.72 g bullet, resulting in a compression of 7.50 cm and a frequency of oscillation of 0.775 Hz. Key calculations include determining the spring constant (k = 0.42214 N/m), maximum acceleration (a = 0.0031629 m/s²), and total energy of the system (E = 0.001187 J). The muzzle velocity of the bullet is also a focus, with discussions on the equations governing the system's motion.

PREREQUISITES
  • Understanding of Hooke's Law and spring constants
  • Knowledge of simple harmonic motion equations
  • Familiarity with momentum conservation in inelastic collisions
  • Ability to solve differential equations related to oscillatory systems
NEXT STEPS
  • Learn how to derive the spring constant using T = 1/f and the relationship k = f²(M+m)/(4π²)
  • Explore the derivation of the equations of motion for simple harmonic oscillators
  • Investigate energy transformations in inelastic collisions and their effects on total energy
  • Study the implications of mass and spring constant on the frequency of oscillation
USEFUL FOR

Physics students, mechanical engineers, and anyone studying dynamics and oscillatory systems will benefit from this discussion.

~christina~
Gold Member
Messages
714
Reaction score
0
[SOLVED] Block- spring- bullet- harmonic motion...

Homework Statement



Your assignment is to make measurements of the muzzle velocity of a bullet. This measurig device consists of a 10kg block which rests on a horizontal surface of negligible mass and is attatched to a hooke's law spring. The other end of the springis fixed to the wall. The preliminary data sent to you shows a 9.72g bullet traveling horizontally and colliding with the block, and as a result of this impact the bullet -block combination compresses the spring 7.50cm. This bullet-block system then executes simple harmonic motion with a 0.775Hz frequency of oscillation.

a) Give the equation which describes the displacement of this system as a function of time
b) What is the value of the spring constant?

c) What is the max acceleration of the system

d) What is the value of the displacement at this acceleration?

e) What is the total energy of this system?

f) what is the muzzle velocity of the gun that fired the bullet?


Homework Equations


v= omega/k
omega= 2pi*f
momentum equation for inelastic collision = > m1v1 + m2v2= (m1+ m2) vf
F= ma
F= -kx

The Attempt at a Solution



a) Give the equation which describes the displacement of this system as a function of time

y(x,t)= A sin (\omega*t -kx)

\omega= 2 \pi f= (0.775Hz)2\pi= 4.869 rad/s

A= 7.50cm=> 0.0750m

k=?


I need help Thanks.
 
Last edited:
Physics news on Phys.org
~christina~ said:
b) What is the value of the spring constant?

T= 2\pi \sqrt{ \frac{k} {M+m}

my lab teacher said that

k= \frac {m+M} {f^2 4 \pi^2} but I don't know how he got this...
He just used T = 1/f and then solved for k.
 
<br /> y(x,t)= A sin (\omega*t -kx)<br />

This is the answer to a wave equation, which isn't needed here. What is needed is just y(t)= A sin(\omega*t).

To get k write down the second order differential equation for the harmonic motion, and
substitute A sin(\omega*t) in it.
 
kamerling said:
This is the answer to a wave equation, which isn't needed here. What is needed is just y(t)= A sin(\omega*t).

To get k write down the second order differential equation for the harmonic motion, and
substitute A sin(\omega*t) in it.

it isn't? ...well my teacher gave the class that one for some reason..

is it this:
y(t)= A sin(\omega*t)

y&#039;(t)= \omega A cos(\omega*t)
y&#039;&#039;(t)= - \omega^2 A sin(\omega*t)

then
A sin(\omega*t)= - \omega^2 A sin(\omega*t)

how does this help?

Doc Al said:
He just used T = 1/f and then solved for k.

Oh..I was trying to manipulate it to equal that but couldn't quite figure that out.

And I added more stuff to the original post. Not sure if it's correct though

Thank you
 
Last edited:
b) What is the value of the spring constant?

T= 2\pi \sqrt{ \frac{k} {M+m}

k= \frac {m+M} {f^2 4 \pi^2} but I don't know how he got this...


k= \frac{10.00kg + 0.00972kg} {(0.775Hz)^2 4 \pi^2)}

k= 0.42214

c) max acceleration of system
F= ma
F= -kx

(m+ M)a= kx

so

a= \frac{0.42214x0.075m} {(0.00972kg + 10.00kg)} = 0.0031629m/s^2

d) value of displacement at that acceleration

value is same as A so it's 0.075m (same given in question)

e) total E of system

E= 0.5 k\Delta A^2= 0.001187J => that seems a bit small though

This is what I did ...I tried to do the rest of the problem besides a) (not sure about that)and I'm not sure it's correct or not.

Can someone help me out with checking this?

Thanks
 
Last edited:
~christina~ said:
is it this:
y(t)= A sin(\omega*t)

y&#039;(t)= \omega A cos(\omega*t)
y&#039;&#039;(t)= - \omega^2 A sin(\omega*t)

then
A sin(\omega*t)= - \omega^2 A sin(\omega*t)

how does this help?

The force of the spring on the block is -ky, so y''(t) = -ky/(m+M) (using F=ma).
now if you substitute y(t)= A sin(\omega*t) in that, you'll find a
relation between k and \omega
 
~christina~ said:
b) What is the value of the spring constant?

T= 2\pi \sqrt{ \frac{k} {M+m}

k= \frac {m+M} {f^2 4 \pi^2} but I don't know how he got this...

These are actually wrong. It should be T= \sqrt{ \frac{M+m} {4 \pi^2 k}
using T=1/f and solving for k can get you the right second formula.
It's probably more worthwile to solve the differential equation yourself, and work
only with \omega
 
kamerling said:
The force of the spring on the block is -ky, so y''(t) = -ky/(m+M) (using F=ma).
now if you substitute y(t)= A sin(\omega*t) in that, you'll find a
relation between k and \omega

it's \omega= \sqrt (k/m)
 
kamerling said:
These are actually wrong. It should be T= \sqrt{ \frac{M+m} {4 \pi^2 k}
using T=1/f and solving for k can get you the right second formula.
It's probably more worthwile to solve the differential equation yourself, and work
only with \omega

so based on yours I got

T= \sqrt (\frac{M+m} {4\pi^2 k})

using T= 1/f

(1/f)^2= \frac{M+m} {4\pi^2 k}
4\pi^2 k= \frac{M+m} {1/f^2}
k= \frac{f^2(M+m)} {4\pi^2}

I think this is correct now.
 
  • #10
And since you know \omega you can now compute k, and the rest shouldn't give any more problems. The energy in e) will still seem small, but that's because the inelastic collision between the bullet and the block converts almost all of it to heat.
 
  • #11
Is the way I did part c correct?

c) max acceleration of system
F= ma
F= -kx

(m+ M)a= kx

so


a= \frac{0.42214x0.075m} {(0.00972kg + 10.00kg)} = 0.0031629m/s^2
 
Last edited:
  • #12
Can someone help me and see if the last part is correct (post above this one)?

I just need to see if that is correct.

THANK YOU
 
  • #13
~christina~ said:
Is the way I did part c correct?

c) max acceleration of system
F= ma
F= -kx

(m+ M)a= kx

so


a= \frac{0.42214x0.075m} {(0.00972kg + 10.00kg)} = 0.0031629m/s^2
you need to substitute the new value of k.
 
  • #14
kamerling said:
you need to substitute the new value of k.

Oh I did that on my paper.


Thank you. (I just wanted to know if the method of solving that was right)
 

Similar threads

Replies
7
Views
1K
  • · Replies 6 ·
Replies
6
Views
6K
  • · Replies 18 ·
Replies
18
Views
2K
Replies
14
Views
4K
  • · Replies 14 ·
Replies
14
Views
2K
Replies
24
Views
4K
Replies
6
Views
986
Replies
3
Views
2K
  • · Replies 3 ·
Replies
3
Views
2K
  • · Replies 13 ·
Replies
13
Views
4K