Understand Momentum & Energy Conservation in Ballistic Pendulum Problems

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SUMMARY

The discussion focuses on the principles of momentum and energy conservation in ballistic pendulum problems. When a bullet is fired and lodges into a block, momentum is conserved due to the absence of net external forces, while energy is not conserved because of friction between the bullet and block. After the bullet embeds itself in the block, the system's kinetic energy is transformed into potential energy as the block rises, illustrating energy conservation in the second phase of the problem.

PREREQUISITES
  • Understanding of classical mechanics principles, specifically momentum and energy conservation.
  • Familiarity with ballistic pendulum concepts and their applications.
  • Knowledge of friction's impact on energy transfer in mechanical systems.
  • Basic mathematical skills for analyzing motion and energy transformations.
NEXT STEPS
  • Study the conservation of momentum in inelastic collisions.
  • Explore the role of friction in energy dissipation during mechanical interactions.
  • Learn about the equations of motion for pendulum systems.
  • Investigate real-world applications of ballistic pendulums in physics experiments.
USEFUL FOR

Physics students, educators, and anyone interested in understanding the dynamics of ballistic pendulum problems and the principles of momentum and energy conservation.

IKonquer
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In solving a ballistic pendulum problem, you can break it up into two parts:

(1) A bullet is fired and it lodges into a block.
Momentum is conserved because there is no net external force.
Energy is not conserved because there is friction between the block and bullet.

(2) Once the bullet is lodged into the block, the block moves up a certain vertical distance.

Could someone explain:

Why is momentum not conserved in this case?

Why is energy conserved in this case?
 
Last edited:
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Don't you have the parts in bold the wrong way around?
 

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