The Ballistic Pendulum

Unit A: Momentum
Ballistic Pendulum
 A device used to measure the speed of
bullets by applying the conservation of
Momentum and the Conservation of Energy
Bullet and Block
 A 0.0200 kg bullet is projected from a rifle into a
4.500 kg block of wood. (ballistic pendulum). The
bullet becomes imbedded in the wood and the
pendulum rises to a vertical height of 0.360 m.
Determine
 The speed of the bullet before impact

Ek of bullet
and block
When it swings upward it has a height of 0.360 m
Ek of bullet and block = Ep of bullet and block

1
Ek  (m1  m2 )v 2
E p  (m1  m2 ) gh
2
1
(m1  m2 )v  (m1  m2 ) gh
2

2
1 2
v  gh
2
Speed of bullet and block immediately after impact
1 2
v  9.81m / s (0.360m)
2

2
v  9.81m / s (0.360m)(2)
2 2

v  7.0632m / s
2 2

v  2.6576682m / s
To determine the speed of the bullet
before impact, we use the conservation of
momentum.

p before
  p after
m 1v1  m2v2  (m1  m2 )v '

0.0200kg (v1 )  0  (4.52kg )(2.6576682m / s )

v1  600m / s
1. A 0.05 bullet with velocity 150 m/s is shot into a 3 kg ballistic
pendulum. Find how high the pendulum rises after the bullet gets
stuck inside.
2. A bullet of mass 6 grams is fired at a pendulum with a mass of 300
grams and collides with it. The pendulum rises to a height of 1
meter compared to its initial position. What was the initial velocity of
the bullet?
3. A ballistic pendulum is used to measure the speed of bullet. It is a
large soft mass which has been suspended from the ceiling. The
mass of the pendulum is 998g, the bullet is 2g and the height to
which the pendulum with bullet swings is 10cm. Calculate the initial
speed of the bullet.
4. A ballistic pendulum of mass 2.5kg is hit by 0.0100kg bullet. It
swings into 0.65m above the initial position. Calculate the initial
velocity of the bullet