Question 12: [Higher Level] A bullet of mass 40 g, travelling at a speed of 500 ms -1, strikes and becomes embedded in a timber

block of mass 12 kg which is at rest. If the block hangs by two threads as shown, and can swing freely, what is the greatest height to which it will rise?

Answer: Applying the law of conservation of momentum: mu = (M + m)v = 12.04v

0.04 500 v

= 1.7 m s-1

If the potential energy of the block and bullet at A is taken as zero then their kinetic energy at A is equal to their potential energy at B, the highest point reached. So, (M+ m)v2 = (M + m)gh 12.04 (1.7)2 = 12.04 9.8 h h = 0.15 m

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Question 09: [Higher Level] A ball is thrown vertically upwards from ground level with an initial speed of 12 m s-1 Calculate (i) the greatest height reached, (ii) the speed of the ball when it is at a height of 5.0 m above the ground. [Take g = 9.8 m s-2] Answer: (i) At ground level the potential energy is zero while at the greatest height the kinetic energy is zero (the ball is stopped). So, from conservation of energy we have mu2 = mgh => h = u2/ 2g = 144/(2x 9.8) = 7.3 m (ii) The kinetic energy at ground level is equal to the sum of the potential and kinetic energies at a height of 5 m. So, we have, mu2 = mgh + mv2 Multiplying both sides by 2 and dividing by m gives u2 = 2gh + v2 => 144 = 2 9.8 5 + v2 = 98 + v2 2 => v = 46 => v = 6.8 m s-1