written by
Gary Gladding
published by
the University of llinois Physics Education Research Group
This is an interactive homework problem involving conservation of momentum. A bullet of known mass penetrates a stationary soda can, emerging with a given speed. The student must determine how fast the can is moving after the bullet emerges. The problem is accompanied by a Socratic-dialog "help" sequence designed to encourage critical thinking as users do a guided conceptual analysis before attempting the mathematics. This item was developed for algebra-based introductory physics.
It is part of a larger collection of interactive problems encompassing mechanics, electricity and magnetism, modern physics, thermodynamics, optics, waves, and quantum physics.
<a href="https://www.compadre.org/introphys/items/detail.cfm?ID=6429">Gladding, Gary. Illinois PER Interactive Examples: Bullet Penetrates Can. Urbana: University of llinois Physics Education Research Group, June 16, 2006.</a>
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/bullet_and_can).
G. Gladding, Illinois PER Interactive Examples: Bullet Penetrates Can (University of llinois Physics Education Research Group, Urbana, 2006), <https://per.physics.illinois.edu/per/IE/ie.pl?phys101/ie/07/bullet_and_can>.
Gladding, G. (2006, June 16). Illinois PER Interactive Examples: Bullet Penetrates Can. Retrieved January 14, 2025, from University of llinois Physics Education Research Group: https://per.physics.illinois.edu/per/IE/ie.pl?phys101/ie/07/bullet_and_can
Gladding, Gary. Illinois PER Interactive Examples: Bullet Penetrates Can. Urbana: University of llinois Physics Education Research Group, June 16, 2006. https://per.physics.illinois.edu/per/IE/ie.pl?phys101/ie/07/bullet_and_can (accessed 14 January 2025).
Gladding, Gary. Illinois PER Interactive Examples: Bullet Penetrates Can. Urbana: University of llinois Physics Education Research Group, 2006. 16 June 2006. 14 Jan. 2025 <https://per.physics.illinois.edu/per/IE/ie.pl?phys101/ie/07/bullet_and_can>.
%A Gary Gladding %T Illinois PER Interactive Examples: Bullet Penetrates Can %D June 16, 2006 %I University of llinois Physics Education Research Group %C Urbana %U https://per.physics.illinois.edu/per/IE/ie.pl?phys101/ie/07/bullet_and_can %O text/html
%0 Electronic Source %A Gladding, Gary %D June 16, 2006 %T Illinois PER Interactive Examples: Bullet Penetrates Can %I University of llinois Physics Education Research Group %V 2025 %N 14 January 2025 %8 June 16, 2006 %9 text/html %U https://per.physics.illinois.edu/per/IE/ie.pl?phys101/ie/07/bullet_and_can
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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.
This is the index of materials by the author for Physics 101, a first-semester algebra-based course in introductory physics. See Related Item above for a link to additional course levels.