Bullet and target- conservation of momentum and energy

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Homework Help Overview

The problem involves a bullet striking a target and examines the conservation of momentum and energy in a vertical motion context. The original poster presents a scenario where a bullet passes through a target, and the goal is to determine how high the target rises after being hit.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory, Conceptual clarification, Mathematical reasoning, Assumption checking

Approaches and Questions Raised

  • Participants discuss the conservation of momentum and energy, with the original poster attempting to calculate the target's height based on kinetic energy. Others suggest considering energy transfer from the bullet to the target and exploring different methods to confirm the solution.

Discussion Status

Participants are actively engaging with the problem, offering various approaches to verify the calculations. Some express uncertainty about the correctness of the original poster's work, while others provide insights into energy transfer and its implications for the target's motion.

Contextual Notes

There are indications of confusion regarding the interpretation of energy types involved in the collision, including kinetic energy, work done, and energy used for deformation of the target.

Lolagoeslala
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Homework Statement


A man aims his gun vertically and shoots a 0.245 kg target, which is positioned on a telephone pole. The bullet has a mass of 0.055 kg and is traveling at a velocity of 850 m/s upwards just before it hits the target. The bullet passes through the target, emerging with a velocity of 395 m/s upwards. How high does the target rise after being hit by the bullet?


The Attempt at a Solution



m1v1+m2v2 = m1v1`+m2v2`
(0.055kgx850m/s) = (0.055kgx395m/s) + (0.245kgxv2`)
46.75kgm/s=21.725kgm/s + (0.245kg)(v2`)
102.1428571m/s = v2`

but now what should i do i just found the speed at which the target will be moving at.. so should i use the conservation of energy like this

1/2mv2^2 = 1/2mv2`^2 + mgh
1/2(0.245kg)(102.1428571m/s)^2 = 1/2(0.245kg)(0)^2 + (0.245kg)(9.8m/s^2)(h)
1278.062499 J = (2.401 kgm/s^2)(h)
532.3042478 m = h
 
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You can check your answer by solving the problem in a different way. Ask yourself:
1) how much energy is transferred from the bullet to the target? Conservation of energy helps here.
2) how high will that much energy carry the target? Again, conservation of energy will tell you, because the maximum height is reached when there's no kinetic energy left, just potential.
 
Nugatory said:
You can check your answer by solving the problem in a different way. Ask yourself:
1) how much energy is transferred from the bullet to the target? Conservation of energy helps here.
2) how high will that much energy carry the target? Again, conservation of energy will tell you, because the maximum height is reached when there's no kinetic energy left, just potential.

How would u solve the first question??
 
IS THIS RIGHT ANYONE?? :confused:
 
Lolagoeslala said:
IS THIS RIGHT ANYONE?? :confused:


Your work looks very good to me.
 
TSny said:
Your work looks very good to me.

Oh thankx :approve:
But is there a way i can confirm the solution..?
 
Lolagoeslala said:
How would u solve the first question??

Well, you know the velocity of the bullet before it hit the target, and you can use that to calculate the kinetic energy of the bullet before it hit the target.

You know the velocity of the bullet after it hit the target, so you also know the kinetic energy of the bullet after it hit the target.

The difference between the two is the energy transferred to the target.
 
Nugatory said:
Well, you know the velocity of the bullet before it hit the target, and you can use that to calculate the kinetic energy of the bullet before it hit the target.

You know the velocity of the bullet after it hit the target, so you also know the kinetic energy of the bullet after it hit the target.

The difference between the two is the energy transferred to the target.

so is this what you are trying to say..

ET1- Wf = ET2
19868.75 J - Wf = 4290.6875 J
15578.06 = Wf
 
Lolagoeslala said:
ET1- Wf = ET2
19868.75 J - Wf = 4290.6875 J
15578.06 = Wf
Just be careful with how you interpret what type(s) of energy Wf represents.
 
  • #10
TSny said:
Just be careful with how you interpret what type(s) of energy Wf represents.

its the energy that is used to deform the target!
 
  • #11
Lolagoeslala said:
its the energy that is used to deform the target!

Part of the energy goes into deforming it, some goes into tearing a hole in it, some goes into heat, some ends up as KE of the target just after the collision, etc.
 

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