Question

1. if a cannonball with a mass of 5 kg is fired at a velocity of 125 m/s from a cannon with a mass of 95 kg, what is the recoil velocity of the cannon?

-6.58 m/s
6.58 m/s
0.152 m/s
-0.125 m/s

Explanation:

Step1: State conservation of momentum

$m_1v_1 + m_2v_2 = 0$

Step2: Rearrange for cannon velocity

$v_2 = -\frac{m_1v_1}{m_2}$

Step3: Substitute given values

$v_2 = -\frac{5\ \text{kg} \times 125\ \text{m/s}}{95\ \text{kg}}$

Step4: Calculate final value

$v_2 = -6.58\ \text{m/s}$

Answer:

-6.58 m/s