Bullet Velocity: 100,000 HP-Powered Distance in 1 Sec

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SUMMARY

The discussion focuses on the physics of accelerating a four-gram bullet using a force equivalent to 100,000 horsepower. It clarifies the distinction between force and power, emphasizing that power does not directly cause acceleration. To determine the distance the bullet travels in one second, one must calculate the kinetic energy using the equation for kinetic energy and integrate the velocity over time. The conversation encourages learning basic physics concepts, such as energy change and calculus, to solve the problem effectively.

PREREQUISITES
  • Understanding of kinetic energy equations
  • Basic algebra skills
  • Fundamentals of calculus for integration
  • Knowledge of the distinction between force and power
NEXT STEPS
  • Study the equation for kinetic energy and its applications
  • Learn how to integrate velocity to find distance
  • Explore the concepts of force and power in physics
  • Review basic calculus principles relevant to physics problems
USEFUL FOR

This discussion is beneficial for physics students, educators, and anyone interested in understanding the principles of motion and energy in mechanics.

Mohd Abdullah
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Hi,

Imagine there is a four gram bullet, but someone want to accelerate it with force or power equal to 100,000 horsepower. How far the distance will the lightweight bullet cover in a second?
 
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Are you accelerating the bullet with force or power? They're two different things, and only one of them causes acceleration.
Doing work on the bullet over time equivalent to 100000 horsepower will put energy into the bullet; if all of this energy becomes kinetic energy, you can integrate the power over 1 second to get the energy change, from which you can find velocity.
 
So, how much is the distance covered by the four gram bullet in a second?
 
The velocity multiplied by 1 second is your distance. The math is up to you.
 
Mohd Abdullah said:
...accelerate it with force or power equal to 100,000 horsepower.
Force and power are completely different things. Power doesn't cause acceleration, and forces aren't measured in horsepower, so your question makes no sense. You will have to think more carefully about exactly what you're trying to ask, and then when you know what you you want to ask you can ask it, and you'll get better more helpful answers.
 
This is a basic homework-like question, so we expect you to work it out like a homework problem. Since you might not have any physics background, I'll give some hints. Power is just the change in energy over time. What is the equation for kinetic energy? Since the velocity is not constant, you need to integrate the velocity to find the distance.
 
No, this is not a homework. I have no experiences in advanced mathematics, that's why I asking this question.
 
But you can easily learn basic definitions so your questions make sense.
 
If you know a little algebra and the equation for kinetic energy, you can calculate the final velocity. If you know a little calculus, you can calculate the distance traveled. Unless you really need the answer right away, you should take the opportunity to learn how to do it.
 

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