Recoil Problem — when interacting objects start from rest

Momentum Do Now warm-up prompt
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Review – Explain this using one of Newton's Laws

A lead brick has a lot of mass and therefore a lot of inertia.

The greater the mass, the greater the tendency for an object to remain at rest, the smaller the acceleration that is produced by a given force.

Conservation of Momentum

Newton Collider

B) Recoil Problem

When interacting objects start from rest

Question

"What is the total momentum before cannon is fired?"

"Total momentum after clown is fired?"

[ Flash ]

"Total momentum before = 0. (at rest)"

"Total momentum after = 0. (momenta are equal but opposite.)"

Gangster shooting a machine gun
Question

"In real life, it would be foolish to shoot a rifle like this. Why?"

Gangster shooting a machine gun

"The recoil on that rifle would throw the shooter's shoulder out!"

Ex 1) Rifle Recoil

A 4.0 kg rifle fires a 5.0 × 10-3 kg bullet at a velocity of 500. m/s. What is the velocity acquired by the rifle? (no shooter)

Rifle

After rifle is fired

Rifle Bullet
mR = 4.0 kg mB = 5.0 × 10-3 kg
VR = ? VB = 500. m/s

Total Momentum Before = Total Momenta After Interaction

0 = m1V1 + m2V2

Subtract m2V2 from both sides:

m1v1 = −m2V2

In problem solving, remove the negative sign and use:

m1v1 = m2v2

(Not in Reference Table)

(4.0 kg)V = (5.0 × 10-3 kg)(500. m/s)

(4.0 kg)V = 2.5 kg·m/s

V = .63 m/s

Equal vs. Unequal Mass Explosions

Machine
Momenta before/after = 0 before

Equal Mass

cars_explosion.mpg

W.F.U.

Total momentum after = 0 ??

carsExplosionUneq.mpg

W.F.U.

Yes, the slower cart has a greater mass.

Ex 2) Magnet Momentum

Two disk magnets are arranged at rest on a frictionless horizontal surface.

Two disk magnets at rest on a frictionless surface

When the string holding them together is cut, they move apart under a magnetic force of repulsion.

a) What is the total momentum of the magnets before the string is cut?

Total momentum before = 0

(Both objects begin at rest)

b) What is the total momentum of the magnets after the string is cut?

Total momentum after = 0

(Total mom. before = Total mom. after)

c) What is the velocity of the 1.0 kg mass when the velocity of the 2.0 kg magnet is 30. m/s?

[ Flash ]

Magnet 1 Magnet 2
m1 = 2.0 kg m2 = 1.0 kg
V1 = 30. m/s V2 = ?

m1v1 = m2v2

2.0 kg(30. m/s) = 1.0 kg(V)

V = 60. m/s

One More

What is the velocity of the cannon below?

Cannon momentum diagram

m1v1 = m2v2

500 kg(V1) = 100 kg(15 m/s)

V1 = 3 m/s