Question

A bullet leaves a rifle with a muzzle velocity of 521 m/s. While accelerating through the barrel of the rifle, the bullet moves a distance of 0.840 m. Calculate the acceleration of the bullet.

Answer 1

We can find the acceleration of the bullet from the kinematic equation:

$$v^2=v_0^2+2ad,$$ $$a=\dfrac{v^2-v_0^2}{2d},$$ $$a=\dfrac{(521\ \dfrac{m}{s})^2-(0\ \dfrac{m}{s})^2}{2\cdot 0.84\ m}=1.62\cdot10^5\ \dfrac{m}{s^2}.$$

Answer:

$a=1.62\cdot10^5\ \dfrac{m}{s^2}.$