Why Does a Bullet Gain More Kinetic Energy Than the Gun When Fired?

AI Thread Summary
When a gun fires a bullet, the bullet gains significantly more kinetic energy than the gun due to the relationship between mass and velocity in the kinetic energy formula, KE = 1/2 m v^2. The bullet, having a smaller mass, achieves a much higher velocity compared to the gun, which is more massive and moves slower. This disparity in velocity is crucial, as kinetic energy is proportional to the square of the velocity. Conservation of momentum explains that the gun and bullet have equal and opposite momenta after firing, but the gun's greater mass results in less kinetic energy. Thus, the velocity's influence on kinetic energy is more pronounced than the mass of the bullet or gun.
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Homework Statement


When a gun fires a bullet why is the kinetic energy gained by the bullet much greater than the kinetic energy gained by the gun?

Homework Equations


Kinetic Energy = 1/2 m v^2

The Attempt at a Solution


Ok I release that Kinetic Energy depends on the square of the velocity so does this mean that the velocity is more important that the mass of the bullet/gun?
 
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Think about conservation of momentum. The gun and the bullet will have equal and opposite momenta after the bullet is fired. But the gun is much more massive.
 
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