Question

Two identical bullets are fired one from a light rifle and another by a heavy rifle with the same force which gun will hurt the shoulder more and why??

Answer 1

Answer:

the light rifle will hurt more

because we know that for every action there is an equal and opposite reaction and also that momentum is conserved

so if we consider x Newton of force coming on the shoulder in both the cases then for momentum to be constant the product of velocity and mass should be the same In the gas of light gun mass is less relative to the heavy gun so the velocity of the light gun increases relative to the heavy guns velocity

as the below statement holds true

m1: mass light gun

m2: mass heavy gun

so m2 is greater than m1

for m1v1= m2v2

when m2 is greater

v2 will be less then v1

hence light gun will recoil with higher velocity towards the shoulder