Question

A bullet of mass 50 g is fired horizontally with a velocity 200 m/s from a pistol of mass 20 kg. Calculate the recoil velocity of the pistol.

Answer 1

GIVEN:

mass of bullet= m = 50g => 0.05kg

velocity of bullet= v = 200m/s

mass of pistol= M = 20kg

REQUIRED:

recoil velocity of pistol= V = ?

SOLUTION:

According to the law of conservation of momentum:

MV+mv=0

20V + (0.05)(200) = 0

20V= -10

V = -10/20

V = -0.5 m/s

the negetive sign indicates the opposite direction.

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