Assignment:
A simple way to measure the speed of a bullet is with a ballistic pendulum. This consists of a wooden block mass, M, into which the bullet mass, m, is shot. The block is suspended from cables of length, l, and the impact of the bullet causes it to swing through a maximum angle, A. The initial speed of the bullet is v.
a) How fast is the block moving immediately after the bullet comes to rest? (Assume this happens quickly).
b) Show how to find the velocity of the bullet by measuring m, M, l, and A.