Chapter 9: Problem 42
(I) In a ballistic pendulum experiment, projectile 1 results in a maximum height \(h\) of the pendulum equal to \(2.6 \mathrm{~cm} .\) A second projectile (of the same mass) causes the the pendulum to swing twice as high, \(h_{2}=5.2 \mathrm{~cm} .\) The second projectile was how many times faster than the first?
Short Answer
Step by step solution
Understanding the scenario
Relating potential energy to velocity
Establishing the velocity-energy relationship
Comparing the velocities
Calculating the velocity ratio
Concluding the comparison
Unlock Step-by-Step Solutions & Ace Your Exams!
-
Full Textbook Solutions
Get detailed explanations and key concepts
-
Unlimited Al creation
Al flashcards, explanations, exams and more...
-
Ads-free access
To over 500 millions flashcards
-
Money-back guarantee
We refund you if you fail your exam.
Over 30 million students worldwide already upgrade their learning with 91Ó°ÊÓ!
Key Concepts
These are the key concepts you need to understand to accurately answer the question.
Projectile Motion
Key characteristics of projectile motion include:
- Horizontal and vertical motion components, which occur simultaneously.
- The influence of gravity, which only affects the vertical motion.
- A parabolic trajectory for the projectile, due to the combination of linear motion and gravitational pull.
Gravitational Potential Energy
The formula used to calculate GPE is:
- \[GPE = mgh\]where:
- \(m\) is the mass of the object (pendulum in this case),
- \(g\) is the acceleration due to gravity, approximately \(9.8 \, \text{m/s}^2\),
- \(h\) is the height of the object above the baseline position.
Energy Conservation
In a mathematical expression, this principle can be shown as:
- \[\frac{1}{2}mv^2 = mgh\]Here, all terms on both sides signify energy, ensuring the total energy remains unchanged during the pendulum's motion.
- Initially, the kinetic energy \(\frac{1}{2}mv^2\) signifies the energy due to the motion of the projectile.
- As the pendulum reaches its peak height \(h\), this energy is fully converted into potential energy \(mgh\).