Illinois PER Interactive Examples: Ballistic Pendulum

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written by Gary Gladding
published by the University of llinois Physics Education Research Group

This interactive homework problem for introductory physics involves conservation of energy and conservation of momentum. A bullet is fired, embedding itself in a resting pendulum suspended vertically by massless strings. Given mass of the bullet and pendulum, plus initial velocity of the bullet, how high will the pendulum rise after the collision? A user-activated "help" sequence is provided to guide students through each phase of this two-step problem. Immediate feedback is received for both correct and incorrect responses.

Editor's Note: Why we like this resource: the questions are crafted to carefully guide students through an analysis of how to attack the problem strategically, using concepts central to momentum conservation and conservation of mechanical energy. As an inelastic collision, mechanical energy is conserved at all times EXCEPT during the collision (a notion that can be difficult for beginners). Taken as a whole, the author's problem set will help learners decide when to use kinematic equations, Newton's Second Law, Conservation of Momentum, and/or the Work/Energy Theorem.

https://per.physics.illinois.edu/per/IE/ie.pl?phys101/ie/07/bpendu...

Subjects	Levels	Resource Types
Classical Mechanics - Linear Momentum = Collisions in One Dimension - Work and Energy = Conservation of Energy Education Practices - Active Learning = Problem Solving	- Lower Undergraduate	- Instructional Material = Activity = Best practice = Problem/Problem Set = Tutorial

Appropriate Courses	Categories	Ratings
- Algebra-based Physics - AP Physics	- Activity - Assessment	Currently 0.0/5 Want to rate this material? Login here!

Intended User:: Learner
Format:: text/html
Access Rights:: Free access
Restriction:: © 2006 University of Illinois Physics Education Research Group
Keywords:: collisions, conservation of mechanical energy, conservation of momentum, inelastic collision, momentum
Record Cloner:: Metadata instance created January 30, 2008 by Alea Smith
Record Updated:: January 11, 2015 by Caroline Hall
Last Update when Cataloged:: August 31, 2014
Other Collections:: The Physics Source

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Record Link

<a href="https://www.compadre.org/precollege/items/detail.cfm?ID=6428">Gladding, Gary. Illinois PER Interactive Examples: Ballistic Pendulum. Urbana: University of llinois Physics Education Research Group, August 31, 2014.</a>

AIP Format

G. Gladding, (University of llinois Physics Education Research Group, Urbana, 2006), WWW Document, (https://per.physics.illinois.edu/per/IE/ie.pl?phys101/ie/07/bpendulum).

AJP/PRST-PER

G. Gladding, Illinois PER Interactive Examples: Ballistic Pendulum (University of llinois Physics Education Research Group, Urbana, 2006), <https://per.physics.illinois.edu/per/IE/ie.pl?phys101/ie/07/bpendulum>.

APA Format

Gladding, G. (2014, August 31). Illinois PER Interactive Examples: Ballistic Pendulum. Retrieved January 24, 2025, from University of llinois Physics Education Research Group: https://per.physics.illinois.edu/per/IE/ie.pl?phys101/ie/07/bpendulum

Chicago Format

Gladding, Gary. Illinois PER Interactive Examples: Ballistic Pendulum. Urbana: University of llinois Physics Education Research Group, August 31, 2014. https://per.physics.illinois.edu/per/IE/ie.pl?phys101/ie/07/bpendulum (accessed 24 January 2025).

MLA Format

Gladding, Gary. Illinois PER Interactive Examples: Ballistic Pendulum. Urbana: University of llinois Physics Education Research Group, 2006. 31 Aug. 2014. 24 Jan. 2025 <https://per.physics.illinois.edu/per/IE/ie.pl?phys101/ie/07/bpendulum>.

BibTeX Export Format

@misc{ Author = "Gary Gladding", Title = {Illinois PER Interactive Examples: Ballistic Pendulum}, Publisher = {University of llinois Physics Education Research Group}, Volume = {2025}, Number = {24 January 2025}, Month = {August 31, 2014}, Year = {2006} }

Refer Export Format

%A Gary Gladding %T Illinois PER Interactive Examples: Ballistic Pendulum %D August 31, 2014 %I University of llinois Physics Education Research Group %C Urbana %U https://per.physics.illinois.edu/per/IE/ie.pl?phys101/ie/07/bpendulum %O text/html

EndNote Export Format

%0 Electronic Source %A Gladding, Gary %D August 31, 2014 %T Illinois PER Interactive Examples: Ballistic Pendulum %I University of llinois Physics Education Research Group %V 2025 %N 24 January 2025 %8 August 31, 2014 %9 text/html %U https://per.physics.illinois.edu/per/IE/ie.pl?phys101/ie/07/bpendulum

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Illinois PER Interactive Examples: Ballistic Pendulum:

Is Part Of Illinois PER: Interactive Examples

This is the full index of interactive homework problems developed by the author for lower-level undergraduates of either algebra-based or calculus-based physics.

relation by Caroline Hall

Supplements Direct Measurement Video: Ballistic Pendulum

This Direct Measurement Video depicts the identical physical situation as this Illinois PER interactive problem. Good companion resource.

relation by Caroline Hall

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