Question

If the point of the nail can be approximated as a circle with a radius of 2.00 x 10^-3 m, what is the pressure in megapascals (MPa) exerted on the wall if a hammer strikes the nail with a force of 104 N? Use π (pi) ≈ 3.14.

a) 3.13 MPa
b) 13.13 MPa
c) 6.28 MPa
d) 26.28 MPa

Answer 1

The pressure exerted on the wall when a hammer strikes a nail can be calculated using the force and area of the nail's tip. By dividing the force by the area, we can determine the pressure. In this case, the pressure is 13.13 MPa.

Step-by-step explanation:

To calculate the pressure exerted on the wall, we need to find the area of the circular tip of the nail. The area of a circle is given by the formula A = πr^2, where A is the area and r is the radius. In this case, the radius is 2.00 x 10^-3 m. Substituting the value into the formula, we get A = 3.14 x (2.00 x 10^-3)^2. The force exerted by the hammer is given as 104 N. The pressure is calculated by dividing the force by the area: Pressure = Force/Area. Therefore, the pressure is 104 N divided by the area we calculated earlier. Finally, we convert the units to megapascals (MPa).

Let's do the calculation:

Pressure = (104 N) / (3.14 x (2.00 x 10^-3)^2 m²)

Pressure = 13.13 MPa

So the correct answer is b) 13.13 MPa.