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, from conceptual analysis through quantitative calculation. Immediate feedback is received for both correct and incorrect responses. This item is part of a larger collection of interactive homework problems for introductory physics.

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

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

Intended Users	Formats	Ratings
- Learners	- text/html	Currently 0.0/5 Want to rate this material? Login here!

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:: February 22, 2025 by Lyle Barbato
Last Update when Cataloged:: August 31, 2014
Other Collections:: The Physics Front

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Record Link

<a href="https://www.compadre.org/portal/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://ie.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://ie.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 March 19, 2025, from University of llinois Physics Education Research Group: https://ie.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://ie.per.physics.illinois.edu/per/ie/ie.pl?phys101/ie/07/bpendulum (accessed 19 March 2025).

MLA Format

Gladding, Gary. Illinois PER Interactive Examples: Ballistic Pendulum. Urbana: University of llinois Physics Education Research Group, 2006. 31 Aug. 2014. 19 Mar. 2025 <https://ie.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 = {19 March 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://ie.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 19 March 2025 %8 August 31, 2014 %9 text/html %U https://ie.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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