Conservation of Momentum of a bomb shell

In summary: I am trying to prove or disprove this using a different method...so, what is the summary?In summary, the problem involves a shell traveling horizontally and due north at a speed of v0, which explodes into two equal mass fragments. One fragment travels vertically up with a speed of v0. The question is to find the velocity of the other fragment. Using conservation of momentum and vector addition, it is found that the velocity of the other fragment is also v0 in the same direction. There is a discrepancy in the answer obtained when using a different coordinate system, which may need to be reconsidered.
  • #36
Then it should be minus the second term (-m*v0*yhat), right?
 
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  • #37
heycoa said:
Then it should be minus the second term (-m*v0*yhat), right?
Yes, for p2.

What does this give you for the vector, v2, and its direction, and its magnitude, v2 ?
 
  • #38
for v2 i get 2*v0(x hat) + v0(y hat)

i calculated the magnitude to be v2=v0*sqrt(5)

does this appear to be correct?
 
  • #39
heycoa said:
for v2 i get 2*v0(x hat) + v0(y hat)

i calculated the magnitude to be v2=v0*sqrt(5)

does this appear to be correct?
Yes !
 
  • #40
Ok excellent!

So I apparently need to read these questions more carefully and define my coordinate systems.

I can't thank you enough for taking the time and having the patience to work with and follow up with me. Thank you very much
 
  • #41
heycoa said:
Ok excellent!

So I apparently need to read these questions more carefully and define my coordinate systems.

I can't thank you enough for taking the time and having the patience to work with and follow up with me. Thank you very much
You're welcome.

I hope I wasn't being too difficult at times.
 
  • #42
no you're great! :)
 
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