Question

Two masses (5.3kg and 7.5kg) are fastened together with a small amount of explosive. They are loaded into a spring gun that is tilted 60.0◦ above the horizontal and launched at a speed of 25m/s. At the top of the trajectory, the explosive detonates (assume the mass of explosive is negligble). After it detonates, the 5.3kg mass isn’t moving at all.

1. What is the velocity of the second mass just after the explosion?

2. How far apart are the masses when they fall back to their initial height?

3. Does the overall mechanical energy of the two-mass system increase, decrease, or stay the same during that explosion? If you say that the energy increases, explain where the energy came from. If you say the energy decreases, say where the energy went.

Answer 1