Mechanical Music Digest  Archives
You Are Not Logged In Login/Get New Account
Please Log In. Accounts are free!
Logged In users are granted additional features including a more current version of the Archives and a simplified process for submitting articles.
Home Archives Calendar Gallery Store Links Info
MMD > Archives > May 1998 > 1998.05.05 > 25Prev  Next


Hammer Let-off
By Ray Fairfield

On the discussion of hammer acceleration and let-off, Roger Waring
wrote "Despite the absence of direct human control at the point of
impact however, surely if you strike the key hard enough initially, you
can generate enough potential force to result in continued acceleration
beyond set-off."

Sorry Roger, but, as reported earlier, F = Ma.  If you remove the
force, it is impossible for any mass to continue accelerating.  No
acceleration means the velocity cannot increase.  In point of fact,
the velocity of the hammer must be decreasing (however slightly) due to
friction after let-off.  All this presupposes, of course, that the
hammer is not aided by gravity in its travel to the string.

If I could accelerate something without adding any force, I would be
a rich man, as perpetual motion machines are extremely rare in nature.

Ray Fairfield


(Message sent Tue 5 May 1998, 19:05:06 GMT, from time zone GMT-0700.)

Key Words in Subject:  Hammer, Let-off

Home    Archives    Calendar    Gallery    Store    Links    Info   


Enter text below to search the MMD Website with Google



CONTACT FORM: Click HERE to write to the editor, or to post a message about Mechanical Musical Instruments to the MMD

Unless otherwise noted, all opinions are those of the individual authors and may not represent those of the editors. Compilation copyright 1995-2024 by Jody Kravitz.

Please read our Republication Policy before copying information from or creating links to this web site.

Click HERE to contact the webmaster regarding problems with the website.

Please support publication of the MMD by donating online

Please Support Publication of the MMD with your Generous Donation

Pay via PayPal

No PayPal account required

                                     
Translate This Page