Question

A bullet in motion hits and gets embedded in a solid, resting on a frictionless table. What is conserved

• A. Momentum and K.E.
• B. Momentum alone
• C. K.E. alone
• D. None of these

Answer 1

The correct option is B

Momentum alone

Explanation of correct option

(B): Momentum alone

1. Only internal impulsive forces act on the system when the bullet is embedded in a solid lying on a frictionless table, and no external force acts on the system.
2. As a result, the system's momentum is conserved.

Explanation of incorrect option

(A): Momentum and K.E. Due to the inelastic nature of this contact, some kinetic energy is lost, and so kinetic energy is not Conserved.

(C): K.E. alone: Due to the inelastic nature of this contact, some kinetic energy is lost, and so kinetic energy is not Conserved.

Hence when a bullet in motion hits and gets embedded in a solid, resting on a frictionless table then only momentum is conserved. Hence option (b) is correct.