The lead female character in the movie Diamonds Are Forever is standing at the e

Question

The lead female character in the movie Diamonds Are Forever is standing at the edge of an offshore oil rig. As she fires a gun, she is driven back over the edge and into the sea. Suppose the mass of a bullet is 0.026 kg and its velocity is +731 m/s. Her mass (including the gun) is 53 kg. (a) What recoil velocity does she acquire in response to a single shot from a stationary position, assuming that no external force keeps her in place? (b) Under the same assumption, what would be her recoil velocity if, instead, she shoots a blank cartridge that ejects a mass of 5.0 x 10-4 kg at a velocity of +731 m/s?

Explanation / Answer

Since no external force applies the total momentum before and after firing will be same

m1u1+m2u2=m1v1+m2v2

since intial velocity is zero; u1=u2=0

m1v1= - m2v2 subscript 1 for bullet, 2 for female character

a)

0.026*731 = - 53*v2

v2 = 0.359 m/s in opposite direction of firing

b)

5X10-4*731 = -53*v2

v2 = 0.0069 m/s in opposite direction of firing

Related Questions

Navigate

• Browse (All)
• Browse T
• Subjects

Integrity-first tutoring: explanations and feedback only — we do not complete graded work. Learn more.