🚀 go-pugleaf

In article <1992Nov2.124821.9376@daimi.aau.dk>, snil@daimi.aau.dk (Sven Nielsen) writes:
> The law of action and reaction holds. Another rule that is valid is : F=m*a
> If you assume that the mass of the bullet < mass of the gun + mass of man 
> holding it you'll see that the bullet is accelerated to a higher velocity.
> 
> The bullet will in fact get a much larger part of the kinetic energi released
> as the gun is fired. (K=m*v^2 /2). You can also see this if you apply the rule
> of conservation of the linear momentum the the problem.

You have given the best answer to this question so far. I'm sorry I did not
think more carefully when I first answered. However, I do have one small
nit pick to add. Its only the mass of the gun or those portions
of it that are rigidly attached to the firing chamber that you should use
in this calculation.  It is that mass that will be accelerated at the time
the gun is fired and the man will have to stop the recoil motion from that
smaller and thus more energetic total mass.

Paul Budnik