Q. A hammer of mass M is moving at speed v_0 when it strikes a nail of negligible mass that is stuck in a wooden block. The hammer is observed to drive the nail a distance L deeper into the block. Find out magnitude F of the force that the wooden block exerts on nail, assuming that this force is independent of the depth of penetration of the nail into the wood. You may also assume that v_0 gg sqrt{2gL}, so that the change in hammer's gravitational potential energy, as it drives the nail into the block, is insignificant.

State the magnitude of the force in terms of M, v_0, and L.