A bullet of mass m(b) is fired horizontally with speed at a wooden block of mass

Question

A bullet of mass m(b) is fired horizontally with speed at a wooden block of mass m(w) resting on a frictionless table. The bullet hits the block and becomes completely embedded within it. After the bullet has come to rest within the block, the block, with the bullet in it, is traveling at speed v(f).

Part A
Which of the following best describes this collision?
perfectly elastic
partially inelastic
perfectly inelastic


Part B
Which of the following quantities, if any, are conserved during this collision?

kinetic energy only

momentum only

kinetic energy and momentum

neither momentum nor kinetic energy



What is the speed of the block/bullet system after the collision?
Express your answer in terms of v(i),m(b) , and m(w) .

Explanation / Answer

Part A ,

since bullet and block stick to each other , the collison is perfectly inelastic

Part B ;

momentum only

only momentum is conserved , not the kinetic energy ,since the collision is perfectly inelastic ,

mv = ( M + m ) V ;

V = [ m / ( M + m ) ] v ;

m is mass of bullet , M is mass of block , v is initial velocity of bullet , V is the final velocity of block- bullet velocity system

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