Chapter 9, Problem 40AP

A wooden block of mass M rests on a table over a large hole as in Figure P9.39. A bullet of mass m with an initial velocity of v_i is fired upward into the bottom of the block and remains in the block after the collision. The block and bullet rise to a maximum height of h. (a) Describe how you would find the initial velocity of the bullet using ideas you have learned in this chapter. (b) Find an expression for the initial velocity of the bullet.

Figure P9.39 Problems 39 and 40.