Kung Fu Science

Introduction  |  About Chris  |  About Michelle  |  What is Kung Fu  |  Breaking Blocks  |  Michelle on Physics  |  Newton's Laws  |  Conservation of Energy  |  Aspects of the Technique  |  Analysis  |  Calculations  |  The Final Test  |  Success!  |  Links and Resources

The Final Test - Michelle attempts the break

Michelle: I've measured the speed of my strike, and calculated how much energy I can transfer to the board. My calculated value is well above the energy needed to break the wood. As long as my measurements were accurate, and I didn't make too many simplifications in my calculations, it should be fine.

One potential problem is that my value for the energy needed to break the wood is from another physics paper, and I'm putting all my faith in it. I'm still a bit scared, and whether I break the wood or not, I think it might hurt!

Chris: When Michelle said she wanted to break a wooden board I must admit I was a bit concerned for her safety. Fortunately she's a good student, and I'm confident that she's got the necessary technique do it. Also, I'm glad that the board she's breaking has the grain of the wood running parallel to its short side, as this makes it easier to break.



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