Question

A bullet of mass 20 g is horizontally fired with a velocity 150 m s¹ from a pistol of mass 2 kg. What is the recoil velocity of the pistol?​

Answer 1

Answer:

The recoil velocity of the pistol is 1.5 m/s.

Step-by-step explanation:

Given :

A bullet of mass 20 g is horizontally fired with a velocity 150 m/s from a pistol of mass 2 kg.

To find :

the recoil velocity of the pistol.

Solution :

Mass of the bullet, m = 20 g = 0.02 kg

Mass of the pistol, M = 2 kg

Velocity of the bullet, v = 150 m/s

Velocity of the pistol, V = ?

Initial momentum of the system = 0 (rest)

Final momentum of the system = mv + MV

By the law of conservation of momentum,

Initial momentum = Final momentum

0 = mu + MV

0 = 0.02(150) + 2V

2V = –3

V = –1.5 m/s

Therefore, the recoil velocity of the pistol is 1.5 m/s.