- #1
Manh
- 62
- 0
Homework Statement
A small bullet is fired into a large piece of wood. After the bullet penetrates the wood, the assembly moves as one unit along a low-friction track in the direction of travel of the bullet.
A. After the bullet is stuck in the piece of wood, is the momentum of the wood (not including the bullet; assuming the piece of wood was initially at rest) greater than, equal to, or less than the initial momentum of the bullet?
a) The momentum of the wood is equal to the initial momentum of the bullet.
b) The momentum of the wood is less than the initial momentum of the bullet.
c) The momentum of the wood is greater than the initial momentum of the bullet.
B. Is the combined kinetic energy of the bullet and the wood after the bullet is stuck in the wood greater than, equal to, or less than the initial kinetic energy of the bullet?
a) The combined energy is greater than the initial kinetic energy of the bullet.
b) The combined energy is equal to the initial kinetic energy of the bullet.
c) The combined energy is less than the initial kinetic energy of the bullet.
2. Homework Equations
The Attempt at a Solution
A.
a) The momentum of the wood is equal to the initial momentum of the bullet.
B.
c) The combined energy is less than the initial kinetic energy of the bullet.
*I'm not sure with my answers if they are correct or incorrect.