Answer:
The kinetic energy acquired by the nail when struck by the hammer is 0.32832 Joules.
Step-by-step explanation:
To calculate the kinetic energy acquired by the nail when struck by the hammer, we need to use the formula for kinetic energy: KE = (1/2)mv^2.
First, we need to convert the mass of the nail from grams to kilograms. There are 1000 grams in 1 kilogram, so the mass of the nail is 7.2 g / 1000 = 0.0072 kg.
Next, we need to calculate the velocity of the hammer. The initial speed is given as 9.0 m/s.
Now we can plug in the values into the formula:
KE = (1/2)(0.0072 kg)(9.0 m/s)^2
Simplifying the equation:
KE = (1/2)(0.0072 kg)(81 m^2/s^2)
KE = 0.32832 Joules
Therefore, the kinetic energy acquired by the nail when struck by the hammer is 0.32832 Joules.
Note: It's important to remember that the kinetic energy is a scalar quantity and is always positive.