Physics 9702 · AS & A Level · Linear momentum and its conservation

Linear momentum and its conservation — practice question

A lead pellet is fired straight upwards into a clay block. At the instant of collision, the block is at rest, although it can move upwards freely afterwards. The pellet has mass $5.0\,\text{g}$ and the clay block has mass $95\,\text{g}$. Just before impact, the pellet is travelling vertically at an initial speed of $200\,\text{m s}^{-1}$. It becomes lodged in the block and does not come out. To what height, measured from its starting position, does the block rise?

  • A$5.1\,\text{m}$
  • B$5.6\,\text{m}$
  • C$10\,\text{m}$
  • D$100\,\text{m}$

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