AP® Physics C: Mechanics · Unit 4 · Topic 4.3
Explosions and Recoil
Watch it explained
- How it worksHow does starting with zero momentum constrain every piece that flies apart?
- Worked exampleFind the velocity of the 5 kg piece when a 12 kg shell at rest also throws 7 kg away at 6 m/s.
- Worked exampleFind the third fragment's velocity when a 9 kg object at rest splits into 3 kg going 4 m/s north and 2 kg going 5 m/s east.
- Going furtherWhat happens to the center of mass of all the pieces after the explosion?
Check yourself
Your turn1 of 2
Find the speed of the remaining 4 kg piece when a 18 kg shell at rest throws a 6 kg piece away at 10 m/s.End of topic.