Can an Orange Break Through 1/2" Drywall?

[claegreid]

OK, PF, I have an argument to settle and I need some expert advice.
A friend of mine claims that it is possible to throw an orange through a 1/2" sheet of drywall (gypsum board); several other friends refute his claim. I would like to do the math to prove/disprove the theory, but my line of work doesn't give me a lot of practice with the physics of such dynamic elements.

Question to the forum: how would I go about setting up an equation solve for this problem.

Thanks in advance!

 

[Khashishi]

Why don't you just give it a try?

 

[claegreid]

Why don't you just give it a try?

That's the next step. But if I find out how much force is necessary and it is more than a human arm can supply, then I will have to build a cannon of sorts to achieve what man cannot.

 

[berkeman]

OK, PF, I have an argument to settle and I need some expert advice.
A friend of mine claims that it is possible to throw an orange through a 1/2" sheet of drywall (gypsum board); several other friends refute his claim. I would like to do the math to prove/disprove the theory, but my line of work doesn't give me a lot of practice with the physics of such dynamic elements.

Question to the forum: how would I go about setting up an equation solve for this problem.

Thanks in advance!

1/2" drywall is not very strong. Especially if you freeze the orange first...

 

[AlephZero]

Especially if you freeze the orange first...

And don't forget that if a baseball pitcher or a cricket fast bowler did the experiment, the orange would hit the drywall traveling at more than 90 mph.

 

[CWatters]

Perhaps google for the impact properties of drywall. If you can't find them you will have to do the experiment.

 

[sophiecentaur]

Don't try this at home, folks!

 

[mic*]

That's the next step. But if I find out how much force is necessary and it is more than a human arm can supply, then I will have to build a cannon of sorts to achieve what man cannot.

Uh, this seems to be outside the conditions of the OP... ? I refer to the word "throw"...

 

[meBigGuy]

The question becomes one of whether the orange will fly apart from the acceleration or air turbulence before it gets enough momentum to break the drywall.

http://www.gypsum.org/wp/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/GA-235-10.pdf talks about drywall strength.
I'd have to learn more about the methods used for measurement of Effective Modulus of Rupture (MOR) per ASTM C 1396 to understand how to apply the numbers.

Are you considering a freestanding 4x8 sheet? or one nailed to 17" studs?

 

[phyzguy]

Only somewhat related, but I love this movie of a cannon firing a 2x4 through a brick wall.