Physics A: Problem Set 30: Collisions

classwork

1. energy-in-collisions-1.pdf
   The diagrams below represent generic objects before a collision followed by a set of outcomes to be considered. Comment on the outcomes, paying attention to the energy and momentum before and after each collision. Does the outcome describe a completely inelastic, partially inelastic, completely elastic, or impossible collision? Provide a brief explanation to accompany each answer.
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2. bowling-balls.pdf
   1. A 5 kg bowling ball moving at 8 m/s approaches a row of stationary balls lined up end to end in a ball return. Comment on the likelihood of the following outcomes.
      1. The incoming ball stops and one 5 kg ball leaves the row of stationary balls at a speed of 8 m/s.
      2. The incoming ball stops and two 5 kg balls leave the row of stationary balls at a speed of 4 m/s.
   2. Two 5 kg bowling balls moving at 8 m/s approach a row of stationary balls lined up end to end in a ball return. Comment on the likelihood of the following outcomes.
      1. The incoming balls stop and two 5 kg balls leave the row of stationary balls at a speed of 8 m/s.
      2. The incoming balls stop and one 5 kg ball leaves the row of stationary balls at a speed of 16 m/s.

more classwork

3. The table at the bottom of this problem, which is also available as a text file, shows the characteristics of some handguns.
   1. For each weapon, determine…
      1. the recoil velocity of the gun.
      2. the kinetic energy of the bullet.
      3. the kinetic energy of the gun.
      4. the percent of the total kinetic energy carried by the bullet.
   2. According to the calculations above, which weapon(s) is…
      1. the most deadly? the least deadly
      2. the easiest to handle? the hardest to handle?
      3. the most efficient at projecting bullets? the most wasteful?
   3. The bullet strikes a stationary 60 kg person and lodges inside them. For each bullet, determine…
      1. the velocity of the victim after imapact.
      2. the kinetic energy of the victim after impact.
      3. the percent of the bullet's kinetic energy lost during impact.
   4. According to the calculations above, which bullet(s) is…
      1. the most efficient at causing harm? the least efficient?

   Characteristics of some handguns

   	name	type	gun mass (g)	cartridge	bullet mass (g)	bullet velocity (m/s)
   1.	Beretta Pico	semi­automatic pistol	330	.380 ACP	6	300
   2.	Browning BDA	semi­automatic pistol	920	9 mm IMI	8	360
   3.	Colt Anaconda	revolver	1,300	.44 Magnum	16	360
   4.	Colt Detective Special	revolver	595	.38 Special	7	300
   5.	Colt M1892	revolver	940	.38 Long Colt	8	235
   6.	COP .357	derringer	800	.357 Magnum	8	440
   7.	FN Herstal Five-seveN	semi­automatic pistol	652	5.7×28 mm	1.8	620
   8.	IMI Desert Eagle	semi­automatic pistol	1,560	.50 Action Express	21	427
   9.	Philadelphia Deringer	derringer	245	.41 Short	8	130
   10.	SIG Sauer Pro	semi­automatic pistol	765	.40 Smith & Wesson	9	360
   11.	Smith & Wesson Model 29	revolver	1,350	.44 Special	13	254
   12.	Walther P38	semi­automatic pistol	800	9×19 mm Parabellum	7.45	390