A bullet of mass ,0.006kg traveling at 180m/s penetrates deeply into the target and it is brought to rest in 0.01seconds. Calculate; (I) force exerted on the target

Answer 1

To calculate the force exerted on the target, we can use the formula:

Force = change in momentum / time

The change in momentum can be calculated using the initial and final velocities of the bullet:

change in momentum = mass * (final velocity - initial velocity)

final velocity of the bullet is 0 m/s (since it stops after penetrating the target)

change in momentum = 0.006 kg * (0 m/s - 180 m/s) = -1.08 kg m/s

The negative sign indicates that the momentum of the bullet has decreased (since it is moving in the opposite direction).

Now we can substitute these values into the formula for force:

Force = change in momentum / time = (-1.08 kg m/s) / (0.01 s) = -108 N

The negative sign indicates that the force was exerted in the opposite direction to the initial motion of the bullet (i.e. towards the shooter). This is known as a "reactive force" and is equal in magnitude but opposite in direction to the "action force" exerted by the bullet on the target.