Illinois PER Interactive Examples: Bullet Penetrates Can

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

This is an interactive homework problem for introductory physics students 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 "help" sequence designed to encourage critical thinking as users do a guided conceptual analysis before attempting the mathematics.

This item is part of a large collection of similar interactive problems for introductory physics.

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

Subjects	Levels	Resource Types
Classical Mechanics - Linear Momentum = Collisions in One Dimension - Motion in One Dimension = Velocity Education Practices - Active Learning = Problem Solving	- Lower Undergraduate - High School	- Instructional Material = Activity = Best practice = 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:: collision, conservation of momentum, velocity
Record Cloner:: Metadata instance created January 30, 2008 by Alea Smith
Record Updated:: February 22, 2025 by Lyle Barbato
Last Update when Cataloged:: June 16, 2006
Other Collections:: The PSRC

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Record Link

<a href="https://www.compadre.org/portal/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>

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/bullet_and_can).

AJP/PRST-PER

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

APA Format

Gladding, G. (2006, June 16). Illinois PER Interactive Examples: Bullet Penetrates Can. Retrieved March 20, 2025, from University of llinois Physics Education Research Group: https://ie.per.physics.illinois.edu/per/ie/ie.pl?phys101/ie/07/bullet_and_can

Chicago Format

Gladding, Gary. Illinois PER Interactive Examples: Bullet Penetrates Can. Urbana: University of llinois Physics Education Research Group, June 16, 2006. https://ie.per.physics.illinois.edu/per/ie/ie.pl?phys101/ie/07/bullet_and_can (accessed 20 March 2025).

MLA Format

Gladding, Gary. Illinois PER Interactive Examples: Bullet Penetrates Can. Urbana: University of llinois Physics Education Research Group, 2006. 16 June 2006. 20 Mar. 2025 <https://ie.per.physics.illinois.edu/per/ie/ie.pl?phys101/ie/07/bullet_and_can>.

BibTeX Export Format

@misc{ Author = "Gary Gladding", Title = {Illinois PER Interactive Examples: Bullet Penetrates Can}, Publisher = {University of llinois Physics Education Research Group}, Volume = {2025}, Number = {20 March 2025}, Month = {June 16, 2006}, Year = {2006} }

Refer Export Format

%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://ie.per.physics.illinois.edu/per/ie/ie.pl?phys101/ie/07/bullet_and_can %O text/html

EndNote Export Format

%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 20 March 2025 %8 June 16, 2006 %9 text/html %U https://ie.per.physics.illinois.edu/per/ie/ie.pl?phys101/ie/07/bullet_and_can

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Illinois PER Interactive Examples: Bullet Penetrates Can:

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

Is Part Of Illinois PER Interactive Examples: Truck

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.

relation by Caroline Hall

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