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

[alan4cult]

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?

 

[Dick]

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.