A canon of mass 1100kg fires a cannonball of mass 6.2kg at a speed of 190ms-1.

Question

a) Calculate the initial recoil speed of the cannon.

b)The purpose of the firing the canon is to transfer chemical energy of the explosive into kinetic energy of the cannon ball, but the cannon is also given kinetic energy. Calculate the percentage of the total kinetic energy that is carried by the cannon ball.

plz help I'm sure you'll agree that this question is confusing

Answer 1

1100 v + 6.2 * 190 = 0

energy of ball = (1/2)(6.2)(190)^2
energy of cannon = (1/2)(1100) v^2
total = sum of those
percent = 100 (ball energy/cannon energy)

No, I do not think it is confusing.

Answer 2

thank you @Damon you make it seem not confusing! I wonder if you're a physics professor or something because u make it really easy

Answer 3

BSc in Physics, Ocean Engineering professor, retired.
You are welcome.
and error
percent = 100 (ball energy/total energy)

Answer 4

wow ocean engineer professor! thats really amazing, I hope one day ill become smart like you idol ! @Damon