Bullet hits door, find angular velocity

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Homework Help Overview

The problem involves a bullet striking a door, leading to the determination of the door's angular velocity after the impact. The subject area includes concepts from dynamics and rotational motion.

Discussion Character

  • Mixed

Approaches and Questions Raised

  • Participants explore conservation of energy and momentum, with attempts to relate linear and angular quantities. Some question the application of moment of inertia and the setup of the problem.

Discussion Status

There are multiple interpretations of the problem, with some participants suggesting conservation of momentum as a viable approach. Guidance has been offered regarding the moment of inertia, and attempts to clarify the relationships between linear and angular motion are ongoing.

Contextual Notes

Participants note potential constraints, such as the door being locked, which could affect the outcome. There is also discussion about the definitions and calculations related to moment of inertia.

aliaze1
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Unfortunately I was absent when a similar example was done in class...

Homework Statement



A 10 g bullet traveling at 400 m/s strikes a 10 kg, 1.0-m-wide door at the edge opposite the hinge. The bullet embeds itself in the door, causing the door to swing open.

What is the angular velocity of the door just after impact?

Homework Equations



0.5mV^2
0.5Iω^2
v = ωr

The Attempt at a Solution



Attempt #1:

I considered the bullet as a particle in linear motion. After collision I considered the mass of the door to be (M = Mdoor+Mbullet). I set up the problem like so:

0.5mv^2 = 0.5Iω^2

the 0.5 is a constant so it cancels..

mv^2 = Iω^2
*note* small 'm' is mass of the bullet, big 'M' is for the door, same goes for 'v' and 'V'

Then I plugged in the moment of inertia I, which is given in a table as 1/3ML^2

the width of the door is 1m, so the L^2 is simply 1

so putting this into the equation, I get:

mv^2 = (1/3M)ω^2

and rearranging and solving for ω, I get:

ω = √[(mv^2)/(1/3M)]|
(square root)

this did not work...Attempt #2:

I tried to find the linear velocity by using just conservation of linear energy

0.5mV^2 = 0.5MV^2

0.5 cancel, so it is mv^2 = MV^2 and find the linear velocity as so:

V = √((mv^2)/M)|

and then using V = ωr, I solved for ω

but still incorrect...
 
Last edited:
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Here is an image I made on paint, this is the way I see it, bird's eye view...

http://photo.ringo.com/210/210049338O350481129.jpg

here is the link if it doesn't come up for some reason

http://photo.ringo.com/210/210049338O350481129.jpg"

http://photo.ringo.com/210/210049338O350481129.jpg
 
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when you right 1/3M is that M/3? In any event, I think momenta is what should be conserved.
 
Last edited:
yes, this is the moment of inertia: 1/3 ML^2

but L is 1, so L^2 = 1 and therefore it is 1/3 M, or as you stated, M/3
 
conservation of momentum would be the way to go here.

The alternate answer is zero, because the door is locked and the latch holds
 
lol

door locked, nice one haha

ok ill try conservation of momentum

so do i do the bullet as linear momentum, and the door as rotational

so it would be:

mv = rMω

?
 
WOOT WOOT!

Got it!

i used conservation of momentum:

mv = Iω (found this part in the txtbook)

and I is given as 1/3ML^2 for a 'thin rod about side'

thanks!
 

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