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MrMaterial
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Homework Statement
A 1.00kg block is attached to a horizontal spring with spring constant 2500N/m. The block is at rest on a frictionless surface. A 10g bullet is fired into the block, in the face opposite the spring, and sticks.
a. What was the bullet's speed if the subsequent oscillations have an amplitude of 10.0cm
Homework Equations
frequency = 1/(2*pi)*sqrt(k/m) (k is spring constant, and m is mass)
Vmax = 2*pi*f*A (f is frequency, A is amplitude, V is velocity)
M1*V1 = M2*V2 (momentum) (M is mass, V is velocity)
E = 1/2m(Vmax)^2 (energy of a spring system)
The Attempt at a Solution
1.) find frequency
The total mass in the spring system would be the mass + the bullet (1.01kg)
using the frequency equation listed above:
7.918Hz = 1/(2*pi)*sqrt(2500/1.01)
2.) find Vmax
I know A is 10cm, or 0.1m
using the Vmax equation listed above:
4.97 = 2*pi*7.918*0.1
3.) Find system energy
Now that i have all the information I need, I may use the Energy equation listed above and find that
12.47 = 1/2(1.01)*(4.97^2)
4.) 12.47J entered the system when bullet hit M.
- This means that the bullet had 12.47J of kinetic energy
the equation for kinetic energy is K=1/2*m*V^2
using that equation I find that:
12.47 = 1/2(0.01)*(V^2)
V = 49.93m/s
3b.) Use Momentum
using the momentum equation above:
1.01*4.97 = 0.01*V2
V2 = 505m/s (the correct answer)
Now this is where I need help. I've received two different answers! The original way I did this problem was with energy because I wanted to give it a try. For some reason I've been running into trouble with all of these oscillation equations (I've got a couple more I'm planning on posting)
Why is it that the energy approach isn't working? The answer seems to be off by about a factor of 10, but I can't find a problem with my units! Is this a problem with my math, or is this not a scenario of which using the energy equations is appropriate?
