Calculating Block Velocity and Bullet Speed in Collision | Physics Homework

[Knfoster]

Homework Statement

An 8.52g bullet is fired into a 385g block that is initially at rest at the edge of a table of h = 1.03 m height. The bullet remains in the block, and after the impact the block lands d = 2.15 m from the bottom of the table. How much time does it take the block to reach the ground once it flies off the edge of the table? What is the initial horizontal velocity of the block as it flies off the table? (assume this to be in the positive direction)

Determine the initial speed of the bullet.

Homework Equations

m1v1=m2v2

The Attempt at a Solution

The velocity of the red card (the one moving) is 0 m/s, and the velocity of e blue cart just after collision is 3.13 m/s. But I don't know how to go about determining the initial speed of the bullet.

 

[LowlyPion]

Homework Statement

An 8.52g bullet is fired into a 385g block that is initially at rest at the edge of a table of h = 1.03 m height. The bullet remains in the block, and after the impact the block lands d = 2.15 m from the bottom of the table. How much time does it take the block to reach the ground once it flies off the edge of the table? What is the initial horizontal velocity of the block as it flies off the table? (assume this to be in the positive direction)

Determine the initial speed of the bullet.

Homework Equations

m1v1=m2v2

The Attempt at a Solution

The velocity of the red card (the one moving) is 0 m/s, and the velocity of e blue cart just after collision is 3.13 m/s. But I don't know how to go about determining the initial speed of the bullet.

You're answering for a different problem. But that aside, maybe start with the parts of the question you know how to answer?

How long does it take for the block to drop 1.3m?

 

[sArGe99]

Homework Statement

An 8.52g bullet is fired into a 385g block that is initially at rest at the edge of a table of h = 1.03 m height. The bullet remains in the block, and after the impact the block lands d = 2.15 m from the bottom of the table. How much time does it take the block to reach the ground once it flies off the edge of the table? What is the initial horizontal velocity of the block as it flies off the table? (assume this to be in the positive direction)

Determine the initial speed of the bullet.

Apply conservation of linear momentum. For finding out the time it takes to reach the ground, I would opt to go for a kinematic equation since the range is also given

 

[Knfoster]

sry. I was copying and pasting... I meant to say that I've figured that the time it takes the block to reach the und is .458 s, and the initial horizontal velocity of the block is 4.69 m/s... What I don't know how to figure is the initial speed of the bullet...?

 

[LowlyPion]

sry. I was copying and pasting... I meant to say that I've figured that the time it takes the block to reach the und is .458 s, and the initial horizontal velocity of the block is 4.69 m/s... What I don't know how to figure is the initial speed of the bullet...?

Well you have a perfectly inelastic collision.

You know the masses.
You know the final combined velocity.
You know the initial speed of the block at rest.
So ...

 

[Knfoster]

so do I take the equation m1v1=(m1+m2)v2 ? And if so... what would my v2 be?

 

[sArGe99]

so do I take the equation m1v1=(m1+m2)v2 ? And if so... what would my v2 be?

Haven't you found that out?

 

[malta]

I had a similar prob on mastering physics the other day,

Since

You know the masses.
You know the final combined velocity.
You know the initial speed of the block at rest.

then the total momentum= (mass block + mass bullet)final velocity

So the momentum of the block/bullet system is conserved. Therefore, the momentum before the collision is the same as the momentum after the collision. Find a second expression for total momentum , this time expressed as the total momentum of the system before the collision.

find this, set them equal to each other and solve for V

 

[Knfoster]

THanks! I've figured it out. :)