Problem

A potato cannon is used to launch a potato on a frozen lake, as shown in the figure. The m...

A potato cannon is used to launch a potato on a frozen lake, as shown in the figure. The mass of the cannon, mc, is 10.0 kg, and the mass of the potato, mp, is 0.850 kg. The cannon's spring (with spring constant kc = 7.06·10³ N/m) is compressed 2 m. Prior to launching the potato, the cannon is at rest. The potato leaves the cannons muzzle moving horizontally to the right at a speed of vp = 175 m/s. Neglect the effects of the potato spinning. Assume there is no friction between the cannon and the lake's ice or between the cannon barrel and the potato.

a) What are the direction and magnitude of the cannon's velocity, vc, after the potato leaves the muzzle?

b) What is the total mechanical energy (potential and kinetic) of the potato/cannon system before and after the firing of the potato?

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Solutions For Problems in Chapter 7

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