A rubber bullet of mass m=0.025/,/mathrm{kg}m=0.025kg traveling at velocity v_0 = 50/,/mathrm{m/s}v 0 = 50m/s hits an iron block of mass M=15/,/mathrm{kg}M=15kg initially hanging at rest from a massless rope. After the collision, the bullet bounced straight back at a velocity of v_1 = 35/,/mathrm{m/s}v 1 = 35m/s. The effect of gravity on the bullet alone can be ignored. To what maximum height hh will the iron block reach after the collision? (Assume that the rope remains tight during the entire process).

Answer: 0.001 m

Explanation:

In order to get the máximum height reached by the iron block, we can use the energy conservation principle, as all the kinetic energy impressed upon the iron blck by the rubber bullet during the collision, becomes gravitational potential energy, as follows:

½ m v2 = m. g. h (1)

We don't know the value of v, but if we look to the collision, and we asume no external forces act during it, the total momentum must be conserved.

The initial momentum, as the block is at rest, is just the one due to the rubber bullet:

P1 = mb. vb = 0.025 kg. 50 m/s = 1.25 kg. m/s

The final momemtum, is just the sum of the one due to the bullet (after being bounced back) and the one for the iron block:

P2 = mb. vfb + mib. vib = 0.025 Kg. (-35 m/s) + 15 Kg. vib

As we have already said, P1 = P2, so we can write the following equation:

0.025 Kg. (-35 m/s) + 15 Kg. vib = 1.25 Kg. m/s.

Solving for vib, we have:

vib = 0.14 m/s

Now, we can replace this value in the equation (1) above:

½. 15 Kg. (0.14) 2 (m/s) 2 = 15 Kg. 9.8 m/s2. H

Solving for H, we have:

H = 0.001 m