Physics 100A Problem about firing a bullet

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Homework Help Overview

The problem involves a bullet being fired through a board, with specific parameters given such as the thickness of the board and the initial and final speeds of the bullet. The subject area relates to kinematics, focusing on motion under constant acceleration.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory, Assumption checking, Mathematical reasoning

Approaches and Questions Raised

  • The original poster attempts to apply kinematic equations to determine the bullet's acceleration and the time of contact with the board. Some participants question the setup and calculations, noting discrepancies in the results.

Discussion Status

Participants are actively discussing the application of kinematic equations. There is recognition of the original poster's struggles with the setup, and some guidance has been offered regarding the equations to use. However, there is no explicit consensus on the correct approach or resolution yet.

Contextual Notes

The original poster expresses frustration with the calculations, indicating that the results obtained were unexpectedly large and possibly incorrect. There is an implication of needing to clarify assumptions or setup in the problem.

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I have been working on this problem for an hour and have no clue what to do.
I try to use equations such as

v = v0 + at Velocity as a function of time
delta x = (v0)(t) = 1/2(a)(t^2) Displacement as a function of time
v62 = v0^2 + 2(a)(delta x) Velocity as a function of displacement

but nothing as been working...

A bullet is fired through a board 13 cm thick in such a way that the bullet’s line of the
motion is perpendicular to the face of the board. The initial speed of the bullet is 350 m/s
and it merges from the other side of the board with a speed of 250 m/s.

a.Find the acceleration of the bullet as it passes through the board.
b.Find the total time the bullet is in contact with the board.

thank you to anyone that is will to help. :approve:
 
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You have to use third and first equation, among the equations which you have written.
 
Yeah, I have been using those equations.
But I guess every time my set up is wrong
and I got a crazy answer for acceleration
like -230000. So can yo please show me
how to do it the correct way?

thank you
 
Looks correct to me; the acceleration of the bullet is that large - its velocity decreased by 100m/s in just a short span of time approximately of the order of 10^-4 seconds.
 

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