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Gun firing a bullet

publish date2023/06/16 21:41:00 GMT+10

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When a gun fires a bullet, the gun and the bullet can be considered an isolated system, at least until the gun recoils back against the shooter's shoulder and the shoulder exerts an outside force on the gun.  Before the "event" - the firing of the bullet - the gun and the bullet are at rest so their total momentum is zero after the bullet is fired, it has momentum.  (Although its mass is fairly small, its speed is great, so its momentum is considerable.)  if momentum is to be conserved, something must gain momentum in the direction opposite that of the bullet.  The gun does just that.

  1. How does the mass of the gun compare to that of the bullet? (1) transparent
  2. After the firing, how does the momentum of the gun compare to that of the bullet? (2) transparent
  3. Therefore, how does the velocity of the gun compare to that of the bullet after firing? (3) transparent
Please drag and drop the selected option in the right place or type it instead
They are equal
It is much greater
It is much less

Correct Answer

(1) It is much greater
(2) They are equal
(3) It is much less

Reference

Basic Physics: A Self-Teaching Guide


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