Horseshoe Impact Force: Can Sand Substrate Substitute for Concrete?

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Substituting concrete tiles with a sand substrate for horseshoe pits raises concerns about the impact force from a 42 oz horseshoe thrown from 40 feet. The discussion suggests treating the horseshoe as a projectile to calculate impact speed, but emphasizes the importance of experimental testing to validate the idea. Two main considerations are whether the tiles can withstand the impact and if they can be securely fixed in place. The second question is easily answered affirmatively, while the first depends on the specific type of tiles used. Overall, practical testing is recommended to ensure durability and performance.
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Not really a homework problem, but I wasn't sure where to post this.

I'm looking at updating the horseshoe pits at work. Regulation courts suggest using concrete as a surround to the clay/sand pit. The question I have is: If I substitute concrete tiles with a sand substrate will it stand up to the impact force of a 42 oz horseshoe thrown from 40' away.

The assumptions I think I need to make include:
Max Height of throw 12 ft
Total time of throw 2.5 sec.

I think this should be a simple cannon ball type problem, but not sure how to proceed, having been out of physics for close to 15 years.

Thanks for any help you can give.
 
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Welcome to PF!

Sure, you can treat the horseshoe as a projectile and find out the speed on impact. But will that really answer your question? My advice is to think of a way to test your idea experimentally.
 
Horseshoes said:
The question I have is: If I substitute concrete tiles with a sand substrate will it stand up to the impact force of a 42 oz horseshoe thrown from 40' away.

There are really two questions:

1. Can the concrete tiles handle the impact of the horseshoes.
2. Can the concrete tiles be fixed in place so that they stay.

The answer to the second question is obviously yes. The answer to the first depends largely on the tiles that you're using. If you take, for example, cinderblocks, and bury the bottom few inches, they won't go anywhere.
 

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