A bullet is fired horizontally with a speed of into a stationary wooden block of mass…
PHYSICS · Multi-part · A Level · Physics · Mechanics and materials · Mechanics and materials
Problem
A 50g bullet is fired horizontally with a speed of 300m s−1 into a stationary wooden block of mass 2.0kg resting on a smooth horizontal table. The bullet embeds in the block, and the combined system then moves up a smooth incline that makes an angle small enough to be treated using mgh for the vertical rise only. Neglect air resistance.
(i) Find the speed of the bullet–block system just after impact.
(ii) Determine the maximum vertical height the system rises before momentarily coming to rest (take g=9.8m s−2).