This physics problem is killing me....how do I go about solving something like this?

Question

I'm so lost....how do I go about solving a problem like this?....

"Pounding a nail into wood makes the nail warmer. Consider a 5-gram steel nail 6cm long and a hammer that exerts an average force of 500N on the nail when it is being driven into a piece of wood. The nail becomes hotter. Calculate the increase in the nail's temperature (Assume that the specific heat capacity of steel is 450J/kg*degC)"

Answer 1

500N * .06m =30 joules.
.450 joules gives 1 gram a 1 degree Celsius increase in temperature. Since there are 5 grams, it would take five times this energy to raise the temperature 1 degree: 2.25 joules.
Therefore, since 2.25 divides into 30 13.33 times, this pounding will raise the temperature of the nail by 13.33 degrees Celsius.

Answer 2

This formula allows you to calculate temperature changes when a given system absorbs or releases a certain amount of heat:
Q = c*m*dT

You know all the info. except for the heat, "Q." Heat is measured in joules, and so is work, "W." You know that the hammer is doing work, and when work is done, heat is released by one thing and absorbed by another. You therefore are allowed to substitute work in for heat:
W = c*m*dT

You know that Work is equal to the force applied, multiplied by the distance over which that force is applied. Substitute the formula for work (F*d) in:
F*d = c*m*dT

Rearrange the formula, so you can isolate the change in temperature (dT):
dT = (F*d) / (c*m)

Now, just plug everything into the formula:
dT = (500*.06) / (450*.005)

Here's the answer:
dT = 13.3 degrees C


*In case you didn't know, you needed to convert some of the values: 6 cm = .06 m and 5g = .005 kg

**I have some advice for you that might help you with physics problems in the future. When you first start a problem, don't automatically start plugging things into a formula. First, read the problem VERY carefully, to see what it's about. Second, look carefully at the UNITS of the values, and compare them with other things you know (Ex. you are given some unit of time and something in joules: you know that the units for power are joules/seconds). My AP physics teacher always used to say, "Units are your friends." Third, substitute formulas into each other if possible. Fourth, isolate the variable whose value you want to know. Finally, plug the values into the fomula. Hope my answer and advice helps you. Good luck with all future physics problems.

Answer 3

Force times distance equals work (or energy). You use an average constant 500N force to drive the nail in its whole length of 6cm (.06M), so 500N * .06M = 30J. Then use the specific heat and mass of the nail to calculate temperature rise.

Answer 4

Just plug the numbers into the formula. Solve for delta t

Answer 5

your a blond heh heh