A person with machine gun can fire 50 g bullets with a velocity of 240 m/s. A 60 kg tiger moves towards him with a velocity of 12 m/s. In order to stop the tiger in track, the number of bullets the person fires towards the tiger is
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Physics Tip : When stopping an object using multiple smaller projectiles, you are essentially providing an equal and opposite impulse to cancel its initial momentum.
Concept:
Physics (Mechanics) – Conservation of Linear Momentum.
Step 1: Identify the condition to stop the tiger.
To stop the tiger in its tracks, the total momentum of the $n$ bullets fired must be equal to the momentum of the moving tiger ($MV = n \cdot mv$).
Step 2: Identify the given values.
* Mass of tiger ($M$) = $60\text{ kg}$
* Velocity of tiger ($V$) = $12\text{ m/s}$
* Mass of one bullet ($m$) = $50\text{ g} = 50 \times 10^{-3}\text{ kg}$
* Velocity of bullet ($v$) = $240\text{ m/s}$
Step 3: Calculate the number of bullets ($n$).
$n = \frac{MV}{mv} = \frac{60 \times 12}{50 \times 10^{-3} \times 240}$.
$n = \frac{720}{12} = 60$.
$$
\therefore \text{The person must fire 60 bullets to stop the tiger.}
$$