Source: High school physics (Chinese)
Problem Sets:
Problem
A bullet is fired from horizontal ground with a speed of 100 m/s at an angle of 60° above the horizontal. Air resistance is negligible.
- Use the impulse-momentum theorem to find the time the bullet is in the air.
- Draw a vector diagram showing the relationship between the impulse of the net external force and the change in momentum.
[Q1] $t = 17.7$ s [Q2] Diagram not provided.
The only force on the bullet is gravity, $\vec{F}_{net} = -mg\hat{j}$. The bullet starts and ends at the same height. Due to symmetry, the final vertical velocity is the negative of the initial vertical velocity: $v_{fy} = -v_{iy} = -v_0\sin\theta$. Applying the impulse-momentum theorem to the vertical motion:
$$F_y t = \Delta p_y = m(v_{fy} - v_{iy})$$ $$-mgt = m(-v_0\sin\theta - v_0\sin\theta) = -2mv_0\sin\theta$$ $$t = \frac{2v_0\sin\theta}{g} = \frac{2(100 \text{ m/s})\sin(60^\circ)}{9.8 \text{ m/s}^2}$$For the vector diagram, the initial momentum $\vec{p}_i$ points up and to the right. The final momentum $\vec{p}_f$ points down and to the right with the same horizontal component. The change in momentum $\Delta\vec{p} = \vec{p}_f - \vec{p}_i$ is a vector pointing vertically downward. The impulse $\vec{I}_{net} = \vec{F}_{net}t$ also points vertically downward, consistent with $\vec{I}_{net} = \Delta\vec{p}$.