Now let’s apply the work–energy theorem to a more complex, multistep problem. In a pile driver, a steel hammerhead with mass 200 kg is lifted 3.00 m above the top of a vertical I-beam that is to be driven into the ground (Figure 1) . The hammer is then dropped, driving the I-beam 7.40 cm farther into the ground. The vertical rails that guide the hammerhead exert a constant 60.0 N friction force on it. Use the work–energy theorem to find
(a) the speed of the hammerhead just as it hits the I-beam and
(b) the average force the hammerhead exerts on the I-beam.

- We will consider the hammer head as our system and apply the conservation of energy principle because during the journey of hammer-head up till just before it hits the I-beam there are no external forces acting on the system:

ΔK.E = ΔP.E

K_2 - K_1 = P_1- P_2

Where, K_2: Kinetic energy of hammer head as it hits the I-beam

K_1: Initial kinetic energy of hammer head ( = 0 ) ... rest

P_2: Gravitational potential energy of hammer head as it hits the I-beam. (Datum = 0)

P_1: Initial gravitational potential energy of hammer head

- The expression simplifies to:

K_2 = P_1

Where, 0.5*m*v2^2 = m*g*s12

v2 = √(2*g*s12) = √(2*9.81*3)

v2 = 7.67 m/s

- For the complete journey we see that there are fictitious force due to contact between hammer-head and I-beam the system is no longer conserved. All the kinetic energy is used to drive the I-beam down by distance s23. We will apply work energy principle on the system:

Wnet = ( P_3 - P_1 ) + W_friction

Wnet = m*g*s13 + F*s23

n*s23 = m*g*s13 + F*s23

Where, n: average force the hammerhead exerts on the I-beam.

s13 = s12 + s23

Hence,

n = m*g*( s12/s23 + 1) + F

n = 200*9.81*(3/0.074 + 1) + 60

n = 81562 N