A hammer of mass 500 g, moving at 50 m s-1, strikes a nail. The nail stops the hammer in a very short time of 0.01 s. What is the force of the nail on the hammer?
ScienceClass 9CBSEAnswered 27 Mar 2026
Answer
Given, mass of the hammer (m) = 500g = 0.5kg
Initial velocity of the hammer (u) = 50 m/s
Terminal velocity of the hammer (v) = 0 (the hammer is stopped and reaches a position of rest).
Time period (t) = 0.01s
a = -5000ms-2
Therefore, the force exerted by the hammer on the nail (F = ma) can be calculated as:
F = (0.5kg) * (-5000 ms-2) = -2500 N
As per the third law of motion, the nail exerts an equal and opposite force on the hammer. Since the force exerted on the nail by the hammer is -2500 N, the force exerted on the hammer by the nail will be +2500 N.
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