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Physics Lab 7

The document describes a planned experiment to investigate the relationship between the velocity (v) of a falling hammer and the depth (d) of a nail driven into a piece of wood. The experiment aims to determine the exponent value (n) in the equation d = kvn, where k is a constant. A hammer will be dropped from various heights onto a nail fixed in wood, and the velocity and penetration depth will be measured. The relationship between v and d will be analyzed by plotting ln(d) versus ln(v) and determining the slope, which should equal n if the hypothesis that d increases exponentially with v is correct. Controlled variables will include keeping the nail mass constant. Potential sources of error are also outlined

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omario norman
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580 views4 pages

Physics Lab 7

The document describes a planned experiment to investigate the relationship between the velocity (v) of a falling hammer and the depth (d) of a nail driven into a piece of wood. The experiment aims to determine the exponent value (n) in the equation d = kvn, where k is a constant. A hammer will be dropped from various heights onto a nail fixed in wood, and the velocity and penetration depth will be measured. The relationship between v and d will be analyzed by plotting ln(d) versus ln(v) and determining the slope, which should equal n if the hypothesis that d increases exponentially with v is correct. Controlled variables will include keeping the nail mass constant. Potential sources of error are also outlined

Uploaded by

omario norman
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
You are on page 1/ 4

Omario Norman

DATE: Mar 5, 2023

LAB#: 7

TITLE: Force

PROBLEM STATEMENT: A hammer is often used to force a nail into wood. The faster the
hammer moves, the deeper the nail goes into the wood. This can be represented in a
laboratory by a mass falling vertically onto a nail. It is suggested that the depth of the nail in
the wood is related to the velocity ‘v’ to the mass at the instant it hits the nail by the equation:
d = kvn, where ‘k’ and ‘n’ are constants. Design a laboratory experiment to investigate the
relationship between ‘v’ and ‘d’ so as to determine the value for n.

HYPOTHESIS: As the velocity of the hammer hitting the nail increases, the depth of the
nail in the wood will increase exponentially.

AIM: To determine the value of the exponent 'n' in the equation 'd = kv^n', where 'd' is the
depth of the nail, 'v' is the velocity of the hammer at the instant it hits the nail, and 'k' is a
constant of proportionality.

APPARATUS: hammer, nail, piece of wood, ruler, stopwatch, scale

THEORY: We can use the equation 'd = kv^n' to predict the depth of penetration of the nail
for different values of velocity at impact. We can compare these predicted values with the
actual values obtained from the experiment to validate the relationship between velocity and
depth of penetration. Overall, by analyzing the data and using mathematical modeling, we
can draw conclusions about the relationship between velocity and depth of penetration of the
nail and test the accuracy of the equation 'd = kv^n'. To calculate the value of 'n' in the
equation 'd = kv^n', we can take the natural logarithm of both sides of the equation:

ln(d) = ln(k) + n * ln(v)

This equation is in the form of a linear equation, y = mx + b, where y = ln(d), x = ln(v), m =


n, and b = ln(k).

1
DIAGRAM:

DRAWING SHOWING THE SETUP OF THE EXPERIMENT

PROCEDURE:

1. Measure the mass of the hammer using the scale.


2. Fix the piece of wood firmly on a table or a stand.
3. Place the nail vertically on the wood.
4. Hold the hammer at a certain height ‘h’ above the nail.
5. Release the hammer so that it falls vertically onto the nail, hitting it with a certain
velocity ‘v’.
6. Measure the depth ‘d’ of the nail in the wood using the ruler.
7. Repeat steps 4-6 for different heights ‘h’ of the hammer, and record the corresponding
values of ‘v’ and ‘d’.
8. Repeat steps 4-7 for different masses of the hammer.
9. Plot a graph of ‘d’ vs ‘v^n’ for each mass of the hammer.
10. Determine the slope of each graph, which represents the value of ‘k’.
11. Determine the value of ‘n’ from the slope using the equation ‘n = log(d2/d1) /
log(v2/v1)’, where ‘d2’ and ‘v2’ are the values of ‘d’ and ‘v’ for a higher velocity,
and ‘d1’ and ‘v1’ are the values for a lower velocity.

2
VARIABLES: Manipulated: The velocity 'v' of the hammer

Responding: The depth 'd' of the nail in the wood.

Controlled: The mass of the nail: the mass of the nail should remain constant
throughout the experiment to ensure that the only factor affecting the depth of
the nail is the velocity of the hammer.

RESULTS:

Trial Mass of Height of Velocity of Depth of Nail


Hammer (kg) Hammer(m) hammeR (m/s) (m)

TABLE SHOWING THE HEIGHT OF THE INDENT MADE IN THE WOODEN


BOARD AND THE VELOCITY OF THE MASS AS IT HITS THE NAIL

CALCULATIONS:

1. Calculate the value of 'n' in the equation d = kv^n.


2. Calculate the value of 'k', using equation 'd = kv^n' and substitute the values of 'd', 'v',
and 'n' from one of the trials.

TREATMENT OF RESULTS:

By plotting ln(d) versus ln(v) on a graph, we can determine the slope of the best-fit line,
which corresponds to the value of 'n' in the equation. The graph will prove the hypothesis
correct if it is seen that as the velocity of the hammer hitting the nail increases, the depth of
the nail in the wood also increases, but the hypothesis will be proven wrong if the graph
shows otherwise.

3
PRECAUTIONS:

1. The nail should be inserted into the wood straight and not at an angle to prevent
any changes in the depth of penetration due to the orientation of the nail.
2. The surface of the wood should be level to prevent any interference with the depth
of penetration.

SOURCES OF ERROR:

1. Variations in the angle of the hammer upon release can affect the direction of the
impact force and the depth of penetration.
2. Human error in the measurement of time and depth can affect the accuracy of the
results.

NAIL AND WEIGH PD

Marks Awarded
State appropriate hypothesis 1
state independent variable 1
State dependent variable 1
State controlled variables 1
State how the variables are controlled 1
State a method to find v, at instant of hitting the nail head 1
Suggest a method to find the distance moved by nail into the wood 1
A clear method showing how v and d are varied to repeat the 1
experiment
Suggests suitable method to find n and k from the experiment 1
Suggest a method to obtain n and K from data obtained 1
Appropriate conclusion 1
limitation/ errors 1
Total 12

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