What force, in Newtons, does the wood exert on the bullet?

In summary, A .22 rifle bullet with a mass of 1.80 g and a velocity of 350 m/s penetrates a block of soft wood with a depth of 0.130 m while being clamped in place. Using Newton's Second Law, it can be determined that the force exerted by the wood on the bullet is 8.48×10^5 N. However, this answer may be incorrect due to not converting the mass to kilograms.
  • #1
Whatupdoc
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A .22 rifle bullet, traveling at 350 m/s, strikes a block of soft wood, which it penetrates to a depth of 0.130 m. The block of wood is clamped in place and doesn't move. The mass of the bullet is 1.80 g. Assume a constant retarding force.

1.) What force, in Newtons, does the wood exert on the bullet?

using Newton's Second Law (F=ma)

first i had to find a
v^2f = V(0)^2 + 2ax <--- equation of motion
0=350^2+2(a)(0.130)
a = 471153.8462

then plug in known values for Newton's second law

F = (1.80)(471153.8462) = 848076 N
or 8.48×10^5 N

but it's the wrong answer, can someone help?
 
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  • #2
You've not converted your mass to kilograms.
 
  • #3


The force exerted by the wood on the bullet can be calculated using the equation F=ma, where F is the force, m is the mass of the bullet, and a is the acceleration. In this case, the acceleration can be calculated using the equation v^2f = v0^2 + 2ax, where v0 is the initial velocity (350 m/s) and x is the distance the bullet penetrated (0.130 m). Solving for a, we get a= 471153.8462 m/s^2.

Now, we can plug in this value for a into the equation F=ma. Therefore, the force exerted by the wood on the bullet is F= (1.80 g)(471153.8462 m/s^2) = 848076.923 N or 8.48×10^5 N.

It is important to note that this is the maximum force exerted by the wood on the bullet, as it is assumed that there is a constant retarding force acting on the bullet as it penetrates the wood. This means that the actual force may be slightly less than this calculated value.
 

Related to What force, in Newtons, does the wood exert on the bullet?

1. What is the equation for calculating force in Newtons?

The equation for calculating force is F = ma, where F is force in Newtons, m is mass in kilograms, and a is acceleration in meters per second squared.

2. How does the mass of the bullet affect the force exerted by the wood?

The mass of the bullet does not directly affect the force exerted by the wood. However, a heavier bullet will experience more resistance from the wood, causing a decrease in its acceleration and thus a decrease in force.

3. Does the type of wood affect the force exerted on the bullet?

Yes, the type of wood can affect the force exerted on the bullet. Softer woods, such as pine, will provide less resistance and therefore exert less force on the bullet compared to harder woods, such as oak.

4. How does the velocity of the bullet affect the force exerted by the wood?

The velocity of the bullet does not directly affect the force exerted by the wood. However, a faster-moving bullet will experience more resistance from the wood, causing a decrease in its acceleration and thus a decrease in force.

5. Can the force exerted by the wood on the bullet be greater than the force of gravity?

Yes, the force exerted by the wood on the bullet can be greater than the force of gravity. This can happen if the wood is able to significantly slow down or stop the bullet, causing a greater force to be exerted in the opposite direction.

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