Physics Higher Level A Laboratory Experiment for Measuring the Speed of a Rifle Bullet

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Physics Higher Level

A Laboratory Experiment for Measuring the Speed of a Rifle Bullet

Aim

The purpose of this lab is to analyze the momentum conservation of the firing of a bullet into a block of wood by means of a computer simulation. From knowing the mass of the bullet and the block and the velocity of the block after the collision, the veclocity of the bullet can be calculated. This method was actually used to measure muzzle velocities of firearms until more advanced methods were developed.

Data Analysis

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Difference in Height = h

h = 6.9cm X 1.67 – 4.5 X 1.67 (We multiply 1.67 here to get the value that are shown on the picture)

h = 11.523 – 7.515

h = 4.008cm = 0.04008m (scale on the picture)

h = 0.04008m (scale on the picture)

Acceleration due to Gravity = g = 9.81 m/s2

Mass of bullet = 0.128g = 0.000128kg

Mass of Target = 6.94g = 0.00694kg

Mass of Both Bullet and Target = 0.000128+ 0.00694 = 0.007068kg

Gravitational Potential Energy = Kinetic Energy

GPE = KE

 =

 = ...

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