Wood Handle

A wood mallet has a cylindrical head 6 in. long and 3 in. in diameter. If the cylindrical handle is 1 in. in?

diameter, how long must it be for the mallet to balance at a point 6 in. from where the handle enters the mallet head? (Assume the unit weight of the wood to be 40lbs per feet cubed.)

Mallet head volume = 6 * 1.5² * π = 42.41 in³
Handle volume = 6 * 0.5² * π = 4.71in³
Volume needed to balance = 47.12 in²
Length = 47.12 / π / 0.5² = 60 in

Total handle length = 60 + 6 = 66 in

Notice that if the density is the same throughout, it doesn't need to be considered.

Kanetsune Shou, Oak Wood Handle, Plain (KB-136) 136

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