Question

The velocity of a 48.0 g shell leaving a 2.95 kg rifle is 391. m/s. What is the recoil velocity of the rifle?

Answer 1

Hi there!

$\large\boxed{ -6.36m/s}$

Use the equation:

$v_{2} = -\frac{m_{1}}{m_{2}} v_{1}$

Where m2 and v2 deal with the larger object, and m1 and v1 with the smaller object. Plug in the given values:

v2 = ?

m1 = 0.048 kg (converted)

m2 = 2.95

v1 = 391

$v_{2} = -\frac{0.048}{2.95} *391$

$v_{2} = -6.36m/s$