A pneumatic piston of mass 3.6 kg3.6\text{ kg}3.6 kg is used to drive a steel masonry spike into a concrete foundation. Immediately before impact, the piston is moving vertically downwards with a velocity of 7.5 m/s7.5\text{ m/s}7.5 m/s.
State the relationship between momentum, mass, and velocity.
Calculate the momentum of the piston just before it strikes the spike. State the unit.
The piston comes to a complete stop in 0.015 s0.015\text{ s}0.015 s after striking the spike. Calculate the average force that causes this change in momentum.
As the steel spike enters the concrete foundation, the spike exerts a force on the concrete. At the same time, the concrete exerts a force on the spike. Explain how these two forces are related.
The steel spike has a wide, flat head at the top (where it is struck by the piston) and a sharp, pointed tip at the bottom (which enters the concrete). Explain why the spike exerts a much greater pressure on the concrete than it does on the piston face.
