Striking Nails!

9-1Project 1

Purpose

• To find out which is the hardest wood out of1. Oak2. Maple3. Poplar4. Pine

Hypothesis

• My hypothesis is that the pine will be the easiest to get through because it is a softer wood and can be slightly indented with your fingernail.

Materials

• For device:large hinge3 U-bolts6 nutsscrewsdrillsocket wrenchhammertwo 7” pieces of 2x4a piece of plywood

Materials (continued)

• For experiment: device

nailsappleshort lengths of wood - oak - poplar - maple - pine

Method

• For the device:1. Screw the two pieces of 2x4 on top of each

other, then screw pieces to plywood.2. Screw square side of hinge to 2x4.3. Using the U-bolts and the nuts, mount the

hammer to the triangular side of the hinge.4. Place the different pieces of wood ( oak,

poplar, maple, pine) by the top of the hammer.

Method (continued)• For the experiment:1. Use a knife to cut the apple into squares.2. Put a nail in each square (to hold the nail in

place).3. Place one of the four boards chosen under the

head of the hammer and a nail/apple on the board.

4. Lift the hammer up to the measured distance and make sure it is lined up to hit the nail.

5. Continue step 4 until nail penetrates through the other side of the board.

6. Continue steps 3, 4, and 5 on the other three boards.

7. Record Results.

Variables

Manipulated: Type of wood

Responding: Number of hits needed to drive in nail

Controlled: Amount of force Nails Hammer

Results

Test 1 Test 2 Test 3

Oak 16 14 11

Poplar 6 6 8

Maple 28 25 UnsuccessfulAt 34

Pine 4 4 3

Analysis

0

5

10

15

20

25

30

35

Oak Poplar Maple Pine

Test 1Test 2Test 3

Conclusion

• I have come to the conclusion that pine is the softest wood, with poplar close behind and oak and maple are fairly hard. Maple is the hardest wood of the four.

Sources of Error

• The apple broke sometimes which made the nail a bit crooked.

• With my 3rd try at the maple, the nail hit a hard spot and bent up (hit a knot).

• Hammer might of wobbled.

Ways to Improve

• Find a better way to keep the nails up.

• Find a way to keep the hammer steady every time.

• Try to find knotless wood.

The End