Inelastic Momentum / Centripetal force problem

AI Thread Summary
The problem involves a bullet embedding into a block, causing it to swing on a cord after the collision. The tension in the cord when the block rises 0.8m is 4.8N, and the goal is to find the bullet's initial speed. The user initially calculated the bullet's speed as 90 m/s but expected 330 m/s based on external sources. There is confusion regarding the centripetal force equation and the role of gravity, with suggestions to use conservation of energy instead of centripetal force for accurate results. The discussion emphasizes the need to correctly apply physics principles to resolve the discrepancies in the calculations.
PsychonautQQ
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Homework Statement


A small wooden block with mass .8kg is suspeded from the lower end of a light cord that is 1.6m long. The block is initially at rest. A bullet with mass 12g is fired at the block with a horizontal velocity vi. The bullet strikes the block and becomes embedded in it. After the collision the combined object swings on the end of the cord. When the block has risen a vertical height of .8m, the tension in the cord is 4.8N. What is the initial speed vi of the bullet?


Homework Equations


conservation of energy
conservation of momentum
centripital acceleration = v^2/r


The Attempt at a Solution



first the simple part...
b subscript = bullet
x subscript = block
v2b = v2x
mbv1b = mbv2b + mxv2x
mbv1b = (mb+mx)v2x
v1b = ((mb+mx)v2x)/mb

Then i set up the centripetal force equation like this:
mx(v2x^2 / r) = T - mx*g*sin∅
sin∅ turns out to be .5

so v2x = ((T-mx*g*.5*r)/mx)^1/2

plugging this number into conservation of momentum i end up getting that the bullet was traveling at 90 m/s, but I'm supposed to get 330 m/s according to a website (which might be wrong but probably isn't).
I probably set up my centriptal force part wrong? help? The website that gives the answer 330 says TSin∅=ma... how could they leave gravity out? and why did they put the sin∅ onto the tension? Doesn't it point in the direction of the centripetal acceleration already?
 
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PsychonautQQ said:

Homework Statement


A small wooden block with mass .8kg is suspeded from the lower end of a light cord that is 1.6m long. The block is initially at rest. A bullet with mass 12g is fired at the block with a horizontal velocity vi. The bullet strikes the block and becomes embedded in it. After the collision the combined object swings on the end of the cord. When the block has risen a vertical height of .8m, the tension in the cord is 4.8N. What is the initial speed vi of the bullet?

Homework Equations


conservation of energy
conservation of momentum
centripital acceleration = v^2/r

The Attempt at a Solution



first the simple part...
b subscript = bullet
x subscript = block
v2b = v2x
mbv1b = mbv2b + mxv2x
mbv1b = (mb+mx)v2x
v1b = ((mb+mx)v2x)/mb

Then i set up the centripetal force equation like this:
mx(v2x^2 / r) = T - mx*g*sin∅
The equation is only good for when the block is moving with speed ##{v_x}_2##, which is when it's at the bottom — in other words, when ##\theta=90^\circ##. As the pendulum swings up, it slows down. The lefthand side is no longer equal to ##\frac{m_x {v_x}_2^2}{r}## because its speed is no longer ##{v_x}_2##.

Instead of using F=ma here, try using conservation of energy.

so v2x = ((T-mx*g*.5*r)/mx)^1/2

plugging this number into conservation of momentum i end up getting that the bullet was traveling at 90 m/s, but I'm supposed to get 330 m/s according to a website (which might be wrong but probably isn't).
I probably set up my centriptal force part wrong? help? The website that gives the answer 330 says TSin∅=ma... how could they leave gravity out? and why did they put the sin∅ onto the tension? Doesn't it point in the direction of the centripetal acceleration already?
 
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