A bullet of mass is fired horizontally with speed at a wooden block of mass resting on a frictionless table. The bullet hits the block and becomes completely embedded within it. After the bullet has come to rest within the block, the block, with the bullet in it, is traveling at speed .

Question

A bullet of mass  is fired horizontally with speed  at a wooden block of mass  resting on a frictionless table. The bullet hits the block and becomes completely embedded within it. After the bullet has come to rest within the block, the block, with the bullet in it, is traveling at speed .

Express your answer in terms of Vi,Vw, and Mb.

JC · Answer

Vw+b = Vb x sqrt[Mb/(Mb+Mw)] I've derived it from 0.5xMbx(Vb^2) = 0.5x(Mb+w)x(Vw+b)^2