(3304) Strikes of Steel
David Sheaff , Joshua Schuett
Kent PS



Abstract


Our science fair project is called Strikes of Steel . In our project we are testing which karate strike is the most effective to breaking a board. We have created a mechanism to test three different common karate strikes. These strikes include the common karate chop, also referred to as a "shudo , a closed fist hammer strike and an open handed slap. Our testing procedure included each hand having its own board to strike. We would then let our mechanism fall from increasing increments of ten degrees, starting at ten degrees until the board broke. After the board broke we would repeat the test four more times, and then find the average point at which the board broke. Our results show that the shudo is by far the most effective karate strike out of the three strikes. We believe it is the most effective strike because of principles of surface area. With the shudo having the least amount of surface area! it will therefore apply the most amount of force to the targeted area of the board! thus breaking it the easiest. Some problems we encountered on the way included: one-inch pinewood being too inconsistent to give accurate results and having to resort to particle board and the mechanism being too shaky and having to mount it on a piece of plywood.