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A 0.0397-kg bullet is fired horizontally into a 3.81-kg wooden block attached to

ID: 1285724 • Letter: A

Question

A 0.0397-kg bullet is fired horizontally into a 3.81-kg wooden block attached to one end of a massless, horizontal spring (k = 872 N/m). The other end of the spring is fixed in place, and the spring is unstrained initially. The block rests on a horizontal, frictionless surface. The bullet strikes the block perpendicularly and quickly comes to a halt within it. As a result of this completely inelastic collision, the spring is compressed along its axis and causes the block/bullet to oscillate with an amplitude of 0.211 m. What is the speed of the bullet? Number _____________ Units_____________

Explanation / Answer


mv = (m+M)*V


V = mv/(M+m) = 0.0103v


0.5*(M+m)*V^2 = 0.5*K*A^2


0.5*(3.81+0.0397)*0.0103*0.0103*v^2 = 0.5*872*0.211*0.211

v = 308.31 m/s