Question

A stationary 6-kg shell explodes into three pieces. One 4.0 kg piece moves horizontally along the negative x-axis. The other two fragments, each 1.0 kg, move in directions that make 60o angle above and below the positive x-axis and their speeds are 60 m/s each. What is the velocity of the 4.0-kg fragment

Answer 1

Answer:

-15 m/s

Explanation:

The computation of the velocity of the 4.0 kg fragment is shown below:

For this question, we use the correlation of the momentum along with horizontal x axis

Given that

Weight of stationary shell = 6 kg

Other two fragments each = 1.0 kg

Angle = 60

Speed = 60 m/s

Based on the above information, the velocity = v is

$1\times 60 \times cos\ 60 + 1\times 60 \times cos\ 60 - 4\ v = 0$

$\frac{60}{2} + \frac{60}{2} - 4\ v = 0$

$v = \frac{60}{4}$

= -15 m/s