Question

0.0010 kg pellet is fired at a speed of 52.2 m/s at a motionless 3.3 kg piece of balsa wood. When the pellet

Answer 1

The formula for momentum is p = m*v

The conservation of momentum suggests:

m*vi = m*vf (initial mass times initial velocity = final mass times final velocity or initial momentum = final momentum)

(0.0010)(52.2) = (0.0010 + 3.3)vf

vf = (0.0010)(52.2)/(0.0010 + 3.3) = 0.0522/3.301 ≈ 0.01581 m/s

To the nearest thousandth  ≈ .016 m/s