What is the Average Force of Bullets Bouncing off Superman's Chest?

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Homework Help Overview

The discussion revolves around calculating the average force exerted by bullets bouncing off Superman's chest, focusing on the principles of momentum and force. The problem involves bullets of a specific mass and speed, and their interaction with a fictional character.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory, Mathematical reasoning, Assumption checking

Approaches and Questions Raised

  • Participants explore the application of Newton's laws, particularly the relationship between force and momentum. There are attempts to calculate the change in momentum and the total impact of multiple bullets over time.

Discussion Status

Some participants have provided guidance on using impulse and momentum concepts, while others are working through calculations and questioning their results. There is an acknowledgment of the need to determine the total change in momentum based on the rate of bullets.

Contextual Notes

Participants are discussing the problem under the constraints of a fictional scenario, which may influence their assumptions about the physical properties involved, such as the behavior of bullets upon impact.

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I can't figure this one out. Please help.

It is well known that bullets fired at Superman simply bounce off his chest. Suppose that a gangster sprays Superman's chest with bullets of mass m = 1.8 g at a rate of R = 200 bullets/min. The speed of each bullet is v = 460 m/s. Suppose the bullets rebound with no change in speed. What is the average force exerted by the stream of bullets on Superman's chest?


THANK YOU!
 
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Use Newton's 2nd and 3rd laws. Force equals the rate of change of momentum.
 
Well I have tried using Impulse (change in p = F * time) and I am not getting it right. The change in momentum is 1.656, right? And then you should be able to just plug in...using 60 sec for time, right?
 
Correct, 1.7 kgm/s is the change in momentum of one bullet. Now just calculate how many bullets hit per second for the total change in momentum per second.
 
I got it! Thanks!
 

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