How Does a Bullet Impact Affect the Angular Velocity of a Door?

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In summary: The bullet has linear momentum before impact, which is converted into angular momentum after impact. The key to solving this problem is to find the angular momentum of the bullet before impact and set it equal to the angular momentum of the door after impact. Then solve for the angular velocity of the door. In summary, to find the angular velocity of a door after a 10 g bullet embeds itself in the door, use conservation of angular momentum by setting the angular momentum of the bullet before impact equal to the angular momentum of the door after impact. This can be calculated using the formula w = (3mv) / (ML^2), where w is the angular velocity, m is the mass of the bullet, v is its velocity, M is
  • #1
sp3sp2sp
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Homework Statement



A 10 g bullet traveling at 370 m/s strikes a 8.0 kg , 0.80-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?
Express your answer to two significant figures and include the appropriate units.

Homework Equations


use conservation of momentum for slab about edge: linear momentum = angular momentum
mv = Iw
I = (1/3)ML^2 (for a slab)
w = (3mv) / (ML^2)
(w = omega)

3. The Attempt at a Solution

w = (3mv) / (ML^2)

w = (3* 0.01kg * 370m/s) / (8.0kg * 0.80kg^2)
w = 2.167 = 2.2 rad/s
= wrong

cant see what I am doing wrong, thanks for any help
 
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  • #2
sp3sp2sp said:
use conservation of momentum for slab about edge: linear momentum = angular momentum
o_O

Linear momentum and angular momentum are different quantities with different units. They cannot be set equal. In this case, only one of those is conserved.

Hint: Use conservation of angular momentum. (What's the angular momentum of the bullet just before impact?)
 
  • #3
bullet doesn't have any angular momentum before impact So Iw = 0?
 
  • #4
sp3sp2sp said:
bullet doesn't have any angular momentum before impact
Sure it does (about the door hinge axis). Read this: Angular Momentum of a Particle

sp3sp2sp said:
So Iw = 0?
No.
 

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