Calculating Vertical Height in Ballistic Pendulum Experiment

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SUMMARY

The discussion focuses on calculating the vertical height achieved by a ballistic pendulum after a bullet impacts it. A 12.0 g bullet traveling at 360 m/s strikes a 6.00 kg pendulum, which is suspended by a 70.0 cm cord. The correct kinetic energy (KE) of the bullet and pendulum system after the collision is 1.55 J, which should be equated to the potential energy (PE) formula mgh to find the vertical height. The initial calculation of 13.23 cm was incorrect due to a misunderstanding of how to apply the energy conservation principle.

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vertical height. Please help!

A 12.0 g rifle bullet is fired with a speed of 360 m/s into a ballistic pendulum with mass 6.00 kg, suspended from a cord 70.0 cm long.

Compute the vertical height through which the pendulum rises in cm.



How would you find the vertical height? I have the equation KE=(sum of the masses)(gravity)(h) to find it but I get 13.23 and that's not right. I found the initial kenitic energy of the bullet to be 778J and the kinetic energy of the bullet and pendulum immediately after the bullet becomes embedded in the pendulum to be 1.55J.


Can someone please help me?
 
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KE of the bullet & block as 1.55 J is correct. Re calculate equating this KE with increase in potential energy (mgh) to get the vertical height h. It won't be 13.23 cm
 
Thank you soo much! I got it. I thought you had to have the KE as 1.55J +778J on the left hand side of the equation. Thats why i was getting it wrong. But thank you!
 

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