Chapter 11: Q. 6 (page 286)
Angie, Brad, and Carlos are discussing a physics problem in which two identical bullets are fired with equal speeds at equalmass wood and steel blocks resting on a frictionless table. One bullet bounces off the steel block while the second becomes embedded in the wood block. 鈥淎ll the masses and speeds are the same,鈥 says Angie, 鈥渟o I think the blocks will have equal speeds after the collisions.鈥 鈥淏ut what about momentum?鈥 asks Brad. 鈥淭he bullet hitting the wood block transfers all its momentum and energy to the block, so the wood block should end up going faster than the steel block.鈥 鈥淚 think the bounce is an important factor,鈥 replies Carlos. 鈥淭he steel block will be faster because the bullet bounces off it and goes back the other direction.鈥 Which of these three do you agree with, and why?
Short Answer
The reply of Carlos is right and it is explained below.
