Question

A bomb of mass 50 kg moving uniformly with a velocity of 10 m/s explodes spontaneously into two fragments of 40 kg and 10 kg. If the velocity of the larger fragment is zero, then calculate the velocity of the smaller fragment​

Answer 1

Given:

A bomb of mass 50 kg moving uniformly with a velocity of 10 m/s explodes spontaneously into two fragments of 40 kg and 10 kg. The velocity of the larger fragment is zero.

To find:

Velocity of smaller fragment ?

Calculation:

Since there is no external force acting on the system, we can use the principle of conservation of Linear Momentum.

Let velocity of smaller fragment be v2:

$\therefore \: mu = (m1)(v1) + (m2)(v2)$

$\implies \: (50)(10) = 40(0) + 10(v2)$

$\implies \: (50)(10) = 0 + 10(v2)$

$\implies \: (50)(10) = 10(v2)$

$\implies \: 10(v2 )= 500$

$\implies \: v2 = 50 \: m {s}^{ - 1}$

So, the smaller fragment moves with 50 m/s , in the direction of the initial mass.