A 1 800-kg pile driver is used to drive a steel I-beam into the ground. The pile driver falls 4.60 m before coming into contact with the top of the beam, and it drives the beam 13.6 cm farther into the ground before coming to rest. Using energy considerations, calculate the average force the beam exerts on the pile driver while the pile driver is brought to rest.

F = 614913.88 N

Explanation:

We are given;

Mass of pile driver; m = 1800 kg

Height of fall of pole driver; h = 4.6 m

Depth driven into beam; d = 13.6 cm = 0.136 m

Now, from energy equations and applying to this question, we can write that;

Workdone = Change in potential energy

Formula for workdone is; W = F × d

While the average potential energy here is; W = mg(h + d)

Thus;

Fd = mg(h + d)

Where F is the average force exerted by the beam on the pile driver while in bringing it to rest.

Making F the subject, we have;

F = mg(h + d)/d

F = 1800 × 9.81 × (4.6 + 0.136)/0.136

F = 614913.88 N