Question

A bullet of mass m is fired at speed v0 into a wooden block of mass M. The bullet instantaneously comes to rest in the block. The block with the embedded bullet slides along a horizontal surface with a coefficient of kinetic friction . What is the algebraic expression which determines how far the block slides before it comes to rest (the magnitude of displacement s in the figure)?

Answer 1

momentumbefore=momentumafter
mVo=(m+M)V
solve for V of the combo.

Initial KE=friction work
1/2 (m+M)V^2=mu(g)(m+M)*d
solve for d.

d= 1/2 (m/(m+M))^2Vo^2/mu*g

check that.