(Hypothetical) 6ft hardened-steel cube dropped at 100 meters

In summary, during a conversation with a friend, the topic of dropping a 6ft cubed cube of Hardened-Steel from the height of 100 meters came up. The speaker became curious about the potential energy and impact of such a drop, and asked for input from those knowledgeable in physics. They also suggested using the volume and density of the cube to calculate its mass, and comparing the resulting energy with that of various explosives to gauge the potential destruction.
  • #1
DdraigiSun
During a random conversation with a friend, we got onto the subject of dropping a 6ft cubed cube of Hardened-Steel from the height of 100 meters.

I ended up getting really curious about the energy it would cause, as well as the potential impact/destruction it would cause on the area.

Considering the large weight of the object I'd imagine it'd have a decent result, however, because I'm not particularly great with this stuff I thought that I'd ask people who are actually good at Physics.
 
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  • #2
You can work this out for yourself. You know the volume of your cube and google will find you the density of steel; this gives you the mass. The energy in Joules released by a mass ##m## falling from height ##h## is ##mgh##. You can compare that with the energy per kilogram released by by various explosives (again, google is your friend) to get a sense of just how destructive the impact might be.
 
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Related to (Hypothetical) 6ft hardened-steel cube dropped at 100 meters

1. What would happen to the cube when dropped at 100 meters?

When the 6ft hardened-steel cube is dropped at 100 meters, it would experience a free fall until it reaches the ground. The force of gravity, which is 9.8 meters per second squared (m/s^2), would act on the cube, causing it to accelerate towards the ground at an increasing speed. Upon impact with the ground, the cube would experience a sudden change in velocity, resulting in a large force that could potentially cause damage to the cube and its surroundings.

2. How long would it take for the cube to reach the ground when dropped at 100 meters?

The time it takes for the 6ft hardened-steel cube to reach the ground when dropped at 100 meters would depend on several factors, such as its initial velocity and the air resistance it experiences during its fall. However, assuming the cube is dropped in a vacuum with no air resistance, it would take approximately 4.5 seconds to reach the ground.

3. Would the cube break upon impact with the ground when dropped at 100 meters?

The outcome of the cube upon impact with the ground would depend on its material strength and the force of impact. A 6ft hardened-steel cube is a very durable and strong object, so it is possible that it may not break upon impact. However, if the force of impact is strong enough, it may cause deformation or damage to the cube.

4. How would the cube's shape affect its free fall when dropped at 100 meters?

The shape of the cube would not significantly affect its free fall when dropped at 100 meters. As long as the cube has a similar mass and density, it would experience the same acceleration due to gravity and reach the ground at the same time, regardless of its shape.

5. What factors would influence the cube's velocity upon impact when dropped at 100 meters?

The cube's velocity upon impact when dropped at 100 meters would depend on its initial velocity, the force of gravity, and air resistance. If the cube is dropped from a higher height, it would have a higher initial velocity, resulting in a greater impact force. Additionally, air resistance would also affect the cube's velocity, as it would slow down the cube's fall and reduce its impact force.

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