Question

a 3000 kg cannon fires a 10kg cannon ball the cannon recoils backwards at a speed of 5m/s how fast is the cannon ball traveling

Answer 1

Question#9865

A 3000 kg cannon fires a 10kg cannon ball the cannon recoils backwards at a speed of 5m/s how fast is the cannon ball traveling.

Solution:

Let:

$$m1 = 3000kg - \text{cannon mass}, \quad m2 = 10kg - \text{cannon ball mass}, \quad v1 = 5m/s - \text{cannon recoil backwards speed},$$ $$v2 - \text{cannon ball speed} = ?$$

According with the law of conservation of linear momentum:

$$m1 * v1 = m2 * v2;$$ $$v2 = \frac{m1 * v1}{m2};$$ $$v2 = \frac{3000 * 5}{10} = 1500 \, \text{m/s}$$

Answer:

The cannon ball speed is: 1500 m/s.