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Pile Driver
Purpose
To illustrate the conversion of gravitational potential energy into kinetic energy and then into work.
Equipment
Pile driver shaft, cylindrical iron weight, wood block with nail and hammer.
Images
Description
Start a nail into the center of the wood block. Place the block on the floor with the nail up and position the pile driver tube over the block. Hold the iron weight at the top of the tube and release it. The weight will fall to the bottom and pound the nail into the wood.
References
Julius Sumner Miller, Observations on a Pile Driver, AJP 22, 409 (1954).
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See pagesc1. center of mass motion
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See pagesc3. first law of motion
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See pagesc4. second law of motion
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See pagesc5. third law of motion
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See pagesc6. friction
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See pagesc7. collisions
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See pagesc8. mechanical energy & power
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See pagesc1. center of mass motion
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See pagesc3. first law of motion
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See pagesc4. second law of motion
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See pagesc5. third law of motion
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See pagesc6. friction
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See pagesc7. collisions
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See pagesc8. mechanical energy & power
Physics Lab Demos