The energy released by the exploding gunpowder in a cannon propels the cannonball forward. Simultaneously the cannon recoils. Which has greater kinetic energy, the launched cannonball or the recoiling cannon?

The launched cannonball

Explanation:

Consider,

The mass of the cannonball, m

The mass of the cannon, M = 1000 m

The velocity of the cannon, V

The velocity of the cannonball, v = 100 V

The K. E of the cannon, K. E = ½ MV²

The K. E of the cannonball, k. e = ½ mv²

Substituting the values in the K. E of the cannon

½ MV² = ½ x 1000 m x (v/100²)

= ½ mv² / 10

Therefore, ½ mv² = 10 x ½ MV²

The K. E of the cannonball is 10 times the K. E of the cannon.

Hence, the cannonball has a grater K. E