The expanding gases that leave the muzzle of a rifle also contribute to the recoil. a .30 caliber bullet has mass 7.20×10−3 kg and a speed of 601 m/s relative to the muzzle when fired from a rifle that has mass 3.10 kg . the loosely held rifle recoils at a speed of 1.85 m/s relative to the earth. find the momentum of the propellant gases in a coordinate system attached to the earth as they leave the muzzle of the rifle.

Momentum of propellant will be 1.422 kgm/sec

Explanation:

We have given the mass of bullet

Velocity of bullet = 601 m /sec

Velocity of rifle with respect to earth = 1.85 m/sec

So velocity of bullet with respect to earth = 601 - 1.85 = 599.15 m/sec

Mass of rifle

So momentum of rifle

And momentum of bullet

So the momentum of propellant = momentum of rifle - momentum of bullet = 5.735 -4.313 = 1.422 kgm/sec  

neither accurate nor precise.