Question Detail
Question
A 7.0 × 10⁻³ kg bullet moving horizontally at 200 m/s strikes and passes through a 0.15 kg can sitting on a table. If the can has a horizontal speed of 0.18 m/s immediately after the collision, calculate the velocity of the bullet immediately after the collision in m/s.
Correct Answer
Option B is the correct answer.
Detailed Explanation
Conservation of momentum: m_bullet u_bullet + m_can u_can = m_bullet v_bullet + m_can v_can. u_can = 0. So (0.007 × 200) = 0.007 v_bullet + 0.15 × 0.18. 1.4 = 0.007 v_bullet + 0.027 => 0.007 v_bullet = 1.373 => v_bullet = 1.373 / 0.007 = 196.14 m/s ≈ 196 m/s.
Hint
Apply conservation of linear momentum.