HKDSE Momentum · 3D

Bullet Penetrates a Pumpkin (3D)

A 5 g bullet at 300 m s⁻¹ penetrates a 4 kg pumpkin at rest on a smooth horizontal plane and exits at 200 m s⁻¹. Rotate the 3D scene and explore momentum conservation.

Controls

Bullet mass m_b (g): 5 Pumpkin mass m_p (kg): 4.0 Bullet initial speed u_b (m/s): 300 Bullet exit speed v_b (m/s): 200 Boost pumpkin motion for visibility (true value shown)

Live Readouts

System p before1.50 kg·m/s

System p after1.50 kg·m/s

Pumpkin p before0.00 kg·m/s

Pumpkin p after0.50 kg·m/s

Pumpkin speed v_p0.125 m/s

KE lost125 J

Key Formula

\(m_b u_b + m_p u_p = m_b v_b + m_p v_p\)

Ready

F — Impulse v — Velocity p — Momentum

Drag to rotate · Scroll/pinch to zoom

Bullet Penetrates a Pumpkin (3D)

Textbook Solutions

(a) Is the momentum of the pumpkin conserved?

(b) Estimate the pumpkin speed after the bullet leaves