Question

a bullet moving with a velocity of 100m/s pierce a block of wood and moves out with a velocityof 10 m/s.if the thickness of the block reduces to one half of the previous value .what will be the emerging velocity of bullet?

Answer 1

The emerging velocity of the bullet is 71 m/s.

The bullet of mass m moving with a velocity u  has kinetic energy. When it pierces the block of wood, the block exerts a force of friction on the bullet. As the bullet passes through the block, work is done against the resistive forces exerted on the bullet by the block. This results in the reduction of the bullet's kinetic energy. The bullet has a speed v when it emerges from the block.

If the block exerts a resistive force F on the bullet and the thickness of the block is x then, the work done by the resistive force is given by,

$W=Fx$

This is equal to the change in the bullet's kinetic energy.

$W=Fx=\frac{1}{2} m(u^2-v^2)......(1)$

If the thickness of the block is reduced by one-half, the bullet emerges out with a velocity v₁.

Assuming the same resistive forces to act on the bullet,

$F(\frac{x}{2} )=\frac{1}{2} m(u^2-v_1^2)......(2)$

Divide equation (2) by equation (1) and simplify for v₁.

$\frac{\frac{Fx}{2} }{Fx} =\frac{(u^2-v_1^2)}{(u^2-v^2)} \\\frac{100^2-v_1^2}{100^2-10^2} =\frac{1}{2} \\v_1^2=5050\\v_1=71.06 m/s$

Thus the speed of the bullet is 71 m/s