Fundamentals of Physics Extended (10th Edition)

Published by Wiley
ISBN 10: 1-11823-072-8
ISBN 13: 978-1-11823-072-5

Chapter 4 - Motion in Two and Three Dimensions - Problems - Page 92: 119

Answer

$\theta = 92.6^{\circ}$

Work Step by Step

We can express $85~km/h$ in units of $m/s$: $v_1 = (85~km/h)(\frac{1~h}{3600~s})(\frac{1000~m}{1~km}) = 23.61~m/s$ Suppose the bullet is fired from an angle $\theta$ with the track, where $\theta$ is measured from the train's direction of motion. Then after entering the train car, the component of the bullet's velocity parallel to the track must be equal to the train's velocity. We can find $\theta$: $(0.80)~v_2~cos~(180^{\circ}-\theta) = v_1$ $cos~(180^{\circ}-\theta) = \frac{v_1}{(0.80)~v_2}$ $180^{\circ}-\theta = cos^{-1}~(\frac{v_1}{(0.80)~v_2}$ $180^{\circ}-\theta= cos^{-1}~[\frac{23.61~m/s}{(0.80)~(650~m/s)}]$ $180^{\circ}-\theta = 87.4^{\circ}$ $\theta = 180^{\circ}-87.4^{\circ}$ $\theta = 92.6^{\circ}$ Note that it is not necessary to know the width of the train car since the component of the bullet's velocity along the track is equal to the train's velocity.
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