What is Clay: Definition and 63 Discussions

Clay is a type of fine-grained natural soil material containing clay minerals. Clays develop plasticity when wet, due to a molecular film of water surrounding the clay particles, but become hard, brittle and non–plastic upon drying or firing. Most pure clay minerals are white or light-coloured, but natural clays show a variety of colours from impurities, such as a reddish or brownish colour from small amounts of iron oxide.Clay is the oldest known ceramic material. Prehistoric humans discovered the useful properties of clay and used it for making pottery. Some of the earliest pottery shards have been dated to around 14,000 BC, and clay tablets were the first known writing medium. Clay is used in many modern industrial processes, such as paper making, cement production, and chemical filtering. Between one-half and two-thirds of the world's population still live or work in buildings made with clay, often baked into brick, as an essential part of its load-bearing structure.
Clay is a very common substance. Shale, formed largely from clay, is the most common sedimentary rock. Although many naturally occurring deposits include both silts and clay, clays are distinguished from other fine-grained soils by differences in size and mineralogy. Silts, which are fine-grained soils that do not include clay minerals, tend to have larger particle sizes than clays. Mixtures of sand, silt and less than 40% clay are called loam. Soils high in swelling clays, which are clay minerals that readily expand in volume when they absorb water, are a major challenge in civil engineering.

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  1. D

    B Question about collisions -- Knife point piercing a ball of clay

    I have a question regarding the collision of two objects, specifically something heavy falling on something with a point. For example, if a 50lb ball of clay fell from 10 meters onto the point of a knife, would the knife's point have to withstand the entire force of the clay before the blade...
  2. D

    Engineering Over-consolidation pressure / negative skin friction of clay

    However, I can't find any proof on this ? Can someone help to explain this ?
  3. Leo Liu

    A piece of clay stuck to a SHM oscillator

    I don't get why the total mechanical energy is not conserved in this situation. When the length of the spring reaches the maximum, the speed of the block is 0 and we have the following equation: $$E=K+U=1/2mv^2+1/2kA^2,\text{where A is the amplitude} \implies E=1/2kx_{max}^2$$ I can't see why...
  4. S

    Misc. "Hybrid clay" sculpting medium

    I gather that special effects artists sometimes use a sculpting medium called "hybrid clay". (Unfortunately, web searches about it are impeded by the use of the term "hybrid clay" as a hair conditioning product. Sellers of sculpting materials do use the term - e.g...
  5. isukatphysics69

    Find the direction of a blob of clay after impact?

    Homework Statement Homework Equations impulse = mv The Attempt at a Solution so i found the velocity of the blob of clay now i am trying to find the direction. i took the xcomponent initial stuff which was 0.04kg*4m/s*cos45 - 0.03kg*3m/s Then set it to the final x component stuff which i...
  6. K

    Moment of inertia -- a lump of clay hits and adheres to a rotating stick....

    Homework Statement A thin stick of mass M = 3.9 kg and length L = 1.8 m is hinged at the top. A piece of clay, mass m = 0.3 kg and velocity V = 2.9 m/s hits the stick a distance x = 1.60 m from the hinge and sticks to it. What is the angular velocity of the stick immediately after the...
  7. A

    I Is sand a better conductor than clay? And why?

    I'm reading through my soil heat flux chapter and I have two questions: it seems that 1. Cs (volumetric heat capacity) in soil increases with increasing soil moisture. I assume volumetric heat capacity is the amount of J it takes to heat up a volume with 1 degree. Does that mean that the more...
  8. Truman I

    A rod at rest on ice is struck by a piece of clay....

    1. Homework Statement A rod (m=6kg, L=3m) at rest on ice (μ=0) is struck by a piece of clay (m=1kg, V=5m/s). The clay sticks. 1) What is the Velocity of the center of mass after the collision? 2) What is the Angular Velocity of the rod following the collision? If the clay did not stick but...
  9. dannyboy2233

    How to analyze the compression of a clay ball

    Hello all! This is my first post on the forum. As some background, this issue pertains to the IB Physics Internal Assessment that I am in the process of writing. Thanks in advance for your help! Homework Statement My research question is: How does the drop height of a consistent-size clay ball...
  10. MickeyBlue

    Clay-stick inertia & energy problem

    Homework Statement A thin stick of mass M = 2.8 kg and length L = 2.2 m is hinged at the top. A piece of clay, mass m = 0.8 kg and velocity V = 2.7 m/s hits the stick a distance x = 1.65 m from the hinge and sticks to it. Q2: What is the ratio of the final mechanical energy to the initial...
  11. Liam A

    I How to create a natural vacuum

    i work at a cavern attraction and one of the parts in the speech we say is that a section of the cavern was once filled with a naturally occurring vacuum until it was punctured and destroyed. we explain in the speech that the vacuum was created when a river packed in that area with mud and clay...
  12. fantisism

    Finding velocity of lump of clay. (Not too sure on answer)

    Homework Statement Two lumps of clay, each with the same mass 3.5 kg, are sliding on ice, with no friction. One is moving at 4.8 m/s to the right, the other is moving at 2.3 m/s to the left. They collide and stick to one another. Calculate the velocity of the lump of clay after the collision...
  13. T

    Bullet acceleration into moist clay

    The problem: A bullet is moving at a speed of 367 m/s when it embeds into a lump of moist clay. The bullet penetrates for a distance of 0.0621m. Determine the acceleration of the bullet while moving into the clay. I can get the correct answer by using Vf2 = Vi2 + 2ad (result: -1.08*10-6 m/s2)...
  14. J

    Lead pellet shot vertically into a clay block

    Homework Statement Homework Equations PCM ∑pi=∑pf v2=u2+2asThe Attempt at a Solution First, using the PCM equation, I found the final velocity of the block, which is about 10.5 ms-1. Then by using the SUVAT formula, i would be able to find the distance moved by the block, but I don't have...
  15. G

    Experimental data modelling off-road vehicle travel

    Hi everyone, I am looking for any available experimental data which models off-road vehicle travel in clay and measures tyre and soil parameters. Parameters I am looking for include pull, torque, shear strength of the soil, sinkage, slip and deflection. If anyone knows of any available raw data...
  16. emma69

    How does lime flocculate clay soil

    Hello guys, I have another question for you that I am stressing myself over, I would value your insights. Thanks in advance. When you add lime (Calcium carbonate) to clay soil it flocculates it and improves the structure, how does this happen ?
  17. W

    The moment of inertia for one spoke+ball would be 0.92kg*m^2.

    Homework Statement A device consists of eight balls each of mass 0.78kg attached to the ends of low-mass spokes of length 2.2m, so that the radius of rotation of the balls is 1.1m. The device is mounted in the vertical plane. The axle is held up by supports that are not shown, and the wheel is...
  18. M

    How does a clay pot cool water?

    From things I've read it states that water oozes through pores of clay pot to outer surface and absorbs the heat form outer air.The heat absorbed is latent heat for water and specific heat for air outside which lowers the air temperature and as evaporation on outer surface takes place water...
  19. C

    What is the best solvent for removing bentonite clay?

    Hello, Can anyone recommend a good solvent for sodium bentonite? I have used it as a sealant, and I need to remove it. Would it be better to dehydrate it with heat before trying to dissolve it?
  20. thankz

    How do you separate iron from clay?

    I'm assuming the reason raw clay is red is because of the iron content, how do you separate it. also is that why bricks are red? and is porcelain just pure clay? one more thing do smelters of iron (how?) also produce steel at their factorys, and if so is that steel also sold as ingots for...
  21. L

    Solving for Final Angular Speed of Clay & Disk

    Homework Statement A ball of clay of mass m travels with velocity v in a path tangent to a disk of radius R and mass M. The clay collides with the disk tangentially to its outer rim (a totally inelastic collision) and the clay and disk begin to spin about the axis. What is the final angular...
  22. M

    Pipe excavation in silt clay soil and pipe safety

    Problem: Excessive settlement I was considering adding new material under the pipe to avoid settlement. But I ran into another problem which has to do which the pipe's edges. How to avoid shears there in silt clay soil? pipe depth is 4m. Thanks
  23. NATURE.M

    Angular Momentum of a ball of clay

    1. Homework Statement [/b] Consider a thin rod of mass m_{r} and length L hanging from a pivot at its upper end. A ball of clay of mass m_{c} and of horizontal velocity v_{0} strikes the lower end of the rod at a right angle and sticks, causing the rod + ball to rotate. What is the angular...
  24. B

    Related Rates Clay Pot Problem

    Homework Statement A potter forms a piece of clay into a cylinder. As he rolls it, the length, L, of the cylinder increases and the radius, r decreases. If the length of the cylinder is increasing at 0.1 cm per second, find the rate at which the radius is changing when the radius is 1 cm and...
  25. S

    Causes for 1 meter of clay over meters of sand

    In the yards of my neighborhood there is about 1 meter of a light brown clay over meters of sand. I'm curious what causes this geology. This is in the USA in the 88005 area code. I speculate that clay is caused by floods of the Rio Grande river, but I don't know what explains the sand. There...
  26. K

    Can sound travel through clay?

    Homework Statement Does sound travel through clay? Homework Equations V=√(Young module/Density) The Attempt at a Solution I've read this from a book and it says the clay is a non-elastic material, so sound doesn't travel through. Is that correct?
  27. B

    Chemistry: Limestone to Clay Ratio

    Homework Statement 1) If limestone (calcium carbonate) and clay (assume aluminum silicate) are mixed together and heated then the result is cement. Cement is a mixture of calcium oxide, carbon dioxide, aluminum oxide, and calcium silicate. These bags can be purchased at any building supplies...
  28. U

    Clay falling onto a pan attached to a vertical spring

    Homework Statement "A spring is hung from the ceiling. A pan of mass 100.0 g is attached to the end, which causes it to stretch 5.00 cm. Find the maximum distance the pan moves downward when a lump of clay of mass 120.0 g is dropped from a height of 40.0 cm onto the pan." The correct answer...
  29. K

    Designing a clay disk launcher

    I began designing a clay disk launcher for when I go to a gun range and I want it to be something like this: I am having trouble sizing an electric motor since I don't have much exposure to E.Eng. The clay pigeon launcher is about 10cm by 10cm and I calculated my exit speed to be 20-35m/s...
  30. S

    Momentum ~ A 2.0kg blob of clay traveling to the north at

    A 2.0kg blob of clay traveling to the north at 6.0m/s inelastically strikes a 3.0kg blob of clay traveling south at 4.0m/s. What is the final velocity of the two blobs after the collision? This is what I think: Since both have the same momentum before striking together, would their final...
  31. I

    What is the magnetic permeability of clay?

    I am trying to apply the law of mixtures to a clay-steel magnetic composite. To determine the optimal ratio per unit mass I need the permeability of steel and clay and the density of steel and clay. The permeability permeability of steel and the density of steel and clay is easy enough to find...
  32. K

    Total work done on clay during Spring Compression

    Homework Statement A 4.63-kg ball of clay is thrown downward from a height of 2.69 m with a speed of 5.01 m/s onto a spring with k = 1610 N/m. The clay compresses the spring a certain maximum amount before momentarily stopping. b) Find the total work done on the clay during the spring's...
  33. jtbell

    The newest tech innovation: clay iPads

    I bet they're pre-loaded with special Adobe software than enables cuneiform input via a stylus. :biggrin: http://www.ctvbc.ctv.ca/servlet/an/local/CTVNews/20120116/bc_steele_clay_ipad_120116/20120116?hub=BritishColumbiaHome
  34. C

    Clay on Mars: Implications and Possibilities

    Is there clay on Mars; if so what might it suggest?
  35. 3

    Impulse of clay and rubber ball on the wall

    Homework Statement A 0.1 kg rubber ball and a 0.1 kg clay ball are both thrown at the wall with the same initial velocity. the rubber ball bounces, the clay ball sticks. Which exerts a larger impulse on the wall?
  36. K

    Angular momentum of disk & clay?

    Homework Statement A rotating uniform-density disk of radius 0.7 m is mounted in the vertical plane. The axle is held up by supports that are not shown, and the disk is free to rotate on the nearly frictionless axle. The disk has mass 3.6 kg. A lump of clay with mass 0.4 kg falls and sticks...
  37. L

    Solving Clay Collision: Final Speed & Swing Height

    Homework Statement A 2kg. lump of clay traveling at a speed of 20m/s collides with and sticks to a 5kg. lump of clay initially at rest and hanging from a string. Find the final speed of the new lump of clay. How high will the clay swing after the collision? (initial) m1=2kg. v1=20m/s...
  38. P

    6G Clay Ball Equation

    Homework Statement A 6-kg clay ball is thrown directly against a perpendicular brick wall at a velocity of 22 m/s and shatters into three pieces, which all fly backward, as shown in the figure. The wall exerts a force on the ball of 2430 N for 0.1 s. One piece of mass 2 kg travels backward...
  39. J

    Clay Math Navier-Stokes solved, checked also by reddit.com

    The Clay Math. Navier-Stokes problem is solved in the peer-reviewed journal paper Electron. J. Diff. Equ. vol 2010(2010), No. 93., pp. 1-14. http://ejde.math.txstate.edu A group of students in reddit.com tried to break the proof...
  40. M

    Magnitude of acceleration of a speck of clay

    What is the magnitude of the acceleration of a speck of clay on the edge of a potter's wheel turning at 48 (revolutions per minute) if the wheel's diameter is 34 ? I tried using V=2(3.14)r/T then using ar =v2/r but i keep getting the wrong answer.
  41. G

    Impulse: Clay ball that sticks vs. Rubber ball that bounces?

    Homework Statement A 10 g rubber ball and a 10 g clay ball are thrown at a wall with equal speeds. The rubber ball bounces, the clay ball sticks. Which ball exerts a larger impulse on the wall? Homework Equations J (impulse) = Favg*dt The Attempt at a Solution I think that...
  42. O

    Angular Speed of a ball of clay

    Homework Statement A ball of clay of mass m travels with velocity v in a path tangent to a disk of radius R and mass M as shown in the figure. The clay collides with the desk tangentially to its outer rim (a totally inelastic collision) and the clay and disk begin to spin about the axis...
  43. Z

    Solving the Problem of Angular Speed After Clay Striking Bar

    Hi i am preparing for the test and i have a problem with the following question. an image is attached. On a frictionless table, a glob of clay of mass 0.30 kg strikes a bar of mass 1.20 kg perpendicularly at a point 0.22 m from the center of the bar and sticks to it. If the bar is 1.34 m...
  44. Z

    Solving a Physics Problem Involving a Hinged Stick and Clay

    Hi, i am preparing for the test and have a problem with the following question. an image is attached A thin stick of mass M = 4.9 kg and length L = 2.6 m is hinged at the top. A piece of clay, mass m = 1.0 kg and velocity V = 4.9 m/s hits the stick a distance x = 2.20 m from the hinge and...
  45. Q

    Angular Momentum before and after being hit with a ball of clay

    Homework Statement A device consists of eight balls each of mass 0.7 kg attached to the ends of low-mass spokes of length 1.8 m, so the radius of rotation of the balls is 0.9 m. The device is mounted in the vertical plane. The axle is held up by supports that are not shown, and the wheel is...
  46. D

    What is the relationship between velocity and momentum in collisions?

    I am a little lost on where to begin with this problem. In my mind, it has something to do with a 90 degree angle, so it would require the use of sin or cos. But I may be wrong. Any help would be appreciated. It is due tonight. Problem: A 20 g ball of clay traveling east at 4.5 m/s collides...
  47. F

    Acceleration of clay on a potter's wheel

    What is the magnitude of the acceleration of a speck of clay on the edge of a potter's wheel turning at 63 revolutions per minute if the wheel's diameter is 34 cm? Just give 2 sig figs.I understand that to find VELOCITY ofo the speck of clay, I'd need to find the circumference of the circle...
  48. N

    Balls and clay blob - Collision problems

    Homework Statement A ball of mass 9m is dropped from rest from a height H =5 meter above the ground. It undergoes a perfectly elastic collision with the ground and rebounds. At the instant that the ball rebounds, a small blob of clay of mass m is released from rest from the original height...
  49. N

    [Collision with 2 Clay Balls] [Inelastic Collisions] [Help Finding Theta]

    Here's my problem guys, I've been trying to puzzle this out for a while. Would really appreciate any help at all, thanks! Homework Statement A 50.0 g ball of clay traveling east at 5.50 m/s collides and sticks together with a 40.0 g ball of clay traveling north at 6.00 m/s. What is the...
  50. B

    Maximizing Rotation: Solving the Clay & Pivoting Rod Problem

    Homework Statement A 75 g 30 cm long rod hangs vertically on a frictionless, horizontal axle passing through its center. A 10g ball of clay traveling horizontally at 2.5 m/s hits and stick to the very bottom tip of the rod. To what maximum angle measured from the vertical, does the rod with...
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