To determine the initial horizontal and vertical velocities of the bullet, we can use the given information about the bullet's initial velocity and launch angle.
The initial velocity of the bullet, given as 120 m/s, can be broken down into its horizontal and vertical components. The horizontal component of velocity remains constant throughout the motion, while the vertical component is affected by gravity.
The horizontal velocity (Vx) can be calculated using the formula:
Vx = V * cos(theta)
where V is the magnitude of the initial velocity (120 m/s) and theta is the launch angle (55 degrees). Substituting the values into the equation:
Vx = 120 m/s * cos(55 degrees) Vx ≈ 120 m/s * 0.5736 Vx ≈ 68.83 m/s
Therefore, the initial horizontal velocity of the bullet is approximately 68.83 m/s.
The vertical velocity (Vy) can be calculated using the formula:
Vy = V * sin(theta)
where V is the magnitude of the initial velocity (120 m/s) and theta is the launch angle (55 degrees). Substituting the values into the equation:
Vy = 120 m/s * sin(55 degrees) Vy ≈ 120 m/s * 0.8192 Vy ≈ 98.31 m/s
Therefore, the initial vertical velocity of the bullet is approximately 98.31 m/s.