The hammer of a pile driver for driving piles has a mass of 600 kg and during operation rises to a height of 12 m.

The hammer of a pile driver for driving piles has a mass of 600 kg and during operation rises to a height of 12 m. Determine the kinetic energy of the hammer at the moment of impact on the pile and its free fall. Disregard air resistance.

Initial data: m (weight of the hammer head) = 600 kg; h (the height to which the hammer rises during operation) = 12 m; the fall of the hammer is free, air resistance is not taken into account.

Reference data: g (acceleration due to gravity) ≈ 10 m / s2.

The kinetic energy of the hammer of the pile driver at the moment of impact on the pile is determined by the formula: Ek = En = m * g * h.

Calculation: Ek = 600 * 10 * 12 = 72,000 J (72 kJ).

Answer: At the moment of hitting the pile, the kinetic energy of the pile driver was 72 kJ.