Angular Momentum (Ballistic Pendulum w/ mass)

In summary, the conversation discusses a problem involving a pendulum with a wood block and a rod, where a bullet is fired into the block causing it to swing out to a certain angle. The person solving the problem is using conservation of angular momentum and energy to find the initial velocity of the bullet. However, there was a mistake in the calculation of the total moment of inertia, which was corrected. The final answer for the initial velocity is approximately 441.
  • #1
Cfem
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I only have one more attempt on this question before I lost all of the points, so detailed help would be much appreciated. I understand everything conceptually (I think), but I don't know where I went wrong.

Homework Statement


A 2.3 kg wood block hangs from the bottom of a 1.3 kg, 1.3 meter long rod. The block and rod form a pendulum that swings on a frictionless pivot at the top end of the rod. A 12 g bullet is fired into the block, where it sticks, causing the pendulum to swing out to a 35 degree angle.

Homework Equations


Conservation of angular momentum
Conservation of energy
Moment of Inertia

The Attempt at a Solution


mb = .012 kg
mB = 2.3 kg
mR = 1.3 kg
L = 1.3 m
r = .65m
vi = ?

-Conservation of Angular momentum:

Ai = Af
Ai = (mb)(vi)(L) = IT(w) = Af

Where w is the final angular velocity
Where IT is the total moment of inertia of the system. Given by:

(1/3)((mR)(r)2 + (mb + mB)(L2)

So,

1: w =([mb * vi * L)/IT

-Conservation of Energy

KE = Change in PE
KE = (1/2)(IT)w2

Change in PE, treating initial position of the pendulum as PE = 0:

PE = mT * g * h

mT is the sum of the masses
Where h is the change in height, denoted by the change in the center of mass as the pendulum rotates:

center of mass = c = (mR * L + (mB + mb)*r)/mT

h = c - c*cos(35)

Equating KE and PE, then solving for w:

w2 = (mT * g * h)*2/IT

So w is the square root of all that mess.

Equating the above equation with 1 and solving for vi

vi = (IT* sqrt{ (mT * g * h)*2 / IT }) / ((mb)(L))

Which gives me something like 441. I'm really frustrated with this and I'm not sure what I did wrong. Thanks in advance.
 
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  • #2
I don't get how you calculated total moment of inertia.
 
  • #3
That might have been one of those "two o'clock in the morning typos".

That should say (1/3)(mR)(L2) + that second half. Formula of a rod rotated about an end summed with the moment of inertia of the bullet and block, treated as a point.

Beyond that, is there any other mistakes? Thanks for catching that.
 

FAQ: Angular Momentum (Ballistic Pendulum w/ mass)

1. What is angular momentum?

Angular momentum is a measure of the rotational motion of a body. It is calculated by multiplying the moment of inertia (a measure of an object's resistance to rotation) by the angular velocity (the rate at which the object is rotating).

2. How is angular momentum related to the Ballistic Pendulum?

In the Ballistic Pendulum experiment, a projectile is fired at a pendulum and the resulting motion of the pendulum is observed. Angular momentum is conserved in this system, meaning that the initial angular momentum of the projectile is equal to the final angular momentum of the pendulum and projectile combined.

3. How does the mass of the projectile affect the angular momentum in the Ballistic Pendulum?

The mass of the projectile has a direct impact on the angular momentum in the Ballistic Pendulum experiment. A heavier projectile will have a greater initial angular momentum, which will result in a larger final combined angular momentum with the pendulum.

4. What is the relationship between the length of the pendulum and the angular momentum in the Ballistic Pendulum?

The length of the pendulum does not directly affect the angular momentum in the Ballistic Pendulum experiment. However, it does affect the moment of inertia of the pendulum, which is a factor in the calculation of angular momentum.

5. How is the conservation of angular momentum demonstrated in the Ballistic Pendulum experiment?

The conservation of angular momentum is demonstrated in the Ballistic Pendulum experiment by the fact that the initial angular momentum of the projectile is equal to the final combined angular momentum of the pendulum and projectile. This shows that angular momentum is conserved in the system.

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