A bullet of mass m=0.05kg embeds itself in a block of mass M=1.2kg, which attached to a spring of force constant k=245N/m. If the initial speed of the bullet v0=1.32m/s, find the maximum compression of the spring

Answer 1

the momentum of the bullet becomes the momentum of the block/bullet
... 0.05 * 1.32 = Vb * (1.2 + 0.05)

find the initial energy (kinetic) of the block/bullet
... this is the energy that compresses the spring

1/2 m v^2 = 1/2 k x^2