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A 37.0-g projectile is launched by the expansion of hot gas in an arrangement sh

ID: 2241771 • Letter: A

Question

A 37.0-g projectile is launched by the expansion of hot gas in an arrangement shown in figure (a). The cross-sectional area of the launch tube is 1.0 cm2, and the length that the projectile travels down the tube after starting from rest is 32 cm. As the gas expands, the pressure varies as shown in figure (b). The values for the initial pressure and volume are Pi = 1.5 times 106 Pa and Vi = 8.0 cm3 while the final values are Pf = 1.1 times 105 Pa and Vf = 40.0 cm3. Friction between the projectile and the launch tube is negligible. If the projectile is launched into a vacuum, what is the speed of the projectile as it leaves the launch tube? If instead the projectile is launched into air at a pressure of 1.1 times 105 Pa, what fraction of the work done by the expanding gas in the tube is spent by the projectile pushing air out of the way as it proceeds down the tube?

Explanation / Answer

when projectile is launcehed in the vacuum

the work done=kinetic energy of the body

so, P1V1-P2V2=1/2*M*Vel^2

so, Vel=202.68 m/s

part2)

in this case atmosphere is also doing work

so, P1V1-P2V2-Patm*32*10^-4=1/2*M*Vel^2

Vrel=148.51 m/s

fraction of work done spent on atmosphere=(P1V1-P2V2)^-1*Patm*100=46.32 %