Bullet and pendulum bob initial speed help momentum.

In summary, a 7.0 g bullet is fired into a 3.5 kg pendulum bob initially at rest and becomes embedded in it. The pendulum rises a vertical distance of 8.0 cm. Using the equation v=sqrt((1+M/m)*2gh), the initial speed of the bullet is calculated to be approximately 28.03 m/s. However, this answer is incorrect according to webassign.
  • #1
lettertwelve
54
0
bullet and pendulum bob...initial speed...help! momentum.

Homework Statement



An 7.0 g bullet is fired into a 3.5 kg pendulum bob initially at rest and becomes embedded in it. If the pendulum rises a vertical distance of 8.0 cm, calculate the initial speed of the bullet.
________m/s


Homework Equations



well there's many ways to do it, but here's one way:
v=sqrt((1+M/m)*2gh)

i tried it another way too, and got the same answer that i did with the above equation

The Attempt at a Solution



so first, 7g bullet = .007kg bullet and height of 8cm = .08m

ok so then v=sqrt((1+3.5/.007)*2*9.8*.08) = ~28.03 m/s

now, i tried this TWO WAYS and got the same answer.
but webassign says it's wrong.

why?
 
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  • #2
The velocity of the pendulum and the bullet is given by:

[tex] v=\sqrt{2gh} [/tex]

The mass shouldn't enter into that part. Once v is known one can use the conservation of momentum to find the bullets initial speed.

EDIT: I see what you've done to include the mass. The problem is the mass part should be outside the square root.
 
  • #3
Kurdt said:
The velocity of the pendulum and the bullet is given by:

[tex] v=\sqrt{2gh} [/tex]

The mass shouldn't enter into that part. Once v is known one can use the conservation of momentum to find the bullets initial speed.

EDIT: I see what you've done to include the mass. The problem is the mass part should be outside the square root.

which mass are you talking about?
 
  • #4
The (1+M/m) term.
 

1. What is the relationship between initial speed and momentum in a bullet and pendulum experiment?

The initial speed of the bullet and pendulum bob are directly related to the momentum of the system. The momentum of an object is determined by its mass and velocity, and in this experiment, the bullet and pendulum bob have the same mass. This means that the initial speed of the bullet and pendulum bob will be the same, resulting in equal and opposite momenta.

2. How does the initial speed of the bullet affect the motion of the pendulum bob?

The initial speed of the bullet has a significant impact on the motion of the pendulum bob. When the bullet collides with the pendulum bob, it transfers its momentum to the bob, causing it to swing. The higher the initial speed of the bullet, the more momentum it will transfer to the pendulum bob, resulting in a larger swing.

3. Why is momentum conserved in a bullet and pendulum experiment?

Momentum is conserved in a bullet and pendulum experiment because no external forces act on the system. The only forces present are the internal forces between the bullet and pendulum bob, which result in the transfer of momentum. According to the law of conservation of momentum, the total momentum of a system remains constant in the absence of external forces.

4. How does the mass of the pendulum bob affect the initial speed of the bullet?

The mass of the pendulum bob does not directly affect the initial speed of the bullet. However, the mass of the pendulum bob does affect the resulting swing of the bob after the collision with the bullet. A heavier pendulum bob will have a smaller swing compared to a lighter bob, as it has a larger inertia and is harder to set in motion.

5. What other factors can affect the initial speed of the bullet in a bullet and pendulum experiment?

The initial speed of the bullet can be affected by various factors such as the type of gun or bullet used, the angle at which the bullet is fired, and the distance between the gun and the pendulum. Additionally, external factors such as air resistance and friction can also impact the initial speed of the bullet and should be minimized in order to obtain accurate results.

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