1

Use g = 9.80 N kg 1 when answering these

questions. The following information applies to
questions 14. Steel wire is used to support
some extremely heavy pictures during an
exhibition at the National Gallery. The following
graph shows the stressstrain relationship for the
particular steel alloy used. At point W the wire
loses its elastic properties, and it snaps at point
X.



1 a What is the maximum stress that this
wire can tolerate before it undergoes plastic
deformation?
b What is the largest strain that this wire will
tolerate while still obeying Hookes law?
c Calculate the gradient of this graph in the
interval up to and including the elastic limit.
d What physical constant does the gradient
represent?
e What is the tensile strength of this material?

2 A 1.0 m piece of this steel wire has a radius of
1.0 mm.
a What is the maximum extension that this wire
can tolerate without breaking?
b What is the maximum extension that this wire
can tolerate before it undergoes plastic
deformation?

3 A tensile force of 1.0 kN is applied to
the wire described in Question 2. Use the graph
above to find the subsequent extension of the
wire:
a while the force is still acting
b some time after the force has been removed.

4 This wire is now placed under a tensile
stress of 5.0 10
8
Pa.
a Choose the correct response. Up to this point,
the wire has exhibited brittle/ductile behaviour.
b What is the extension of the wire while it
is supporting this load?
c If the crate is removed, will the wire return to
its original length? Explain your answer.

5 A metal rod 2.00 m long and 1.00 cm
2
in
cross-section is subjected to a tensile force of
5.00 kN. As a result its length increases by 0.800
mm. Calculate Youngs modulus for the
material from which the rod is made.

6 a In general, how does the value of Youngs
modulus for a particular material relate to its
stiffness?
b The value of Youngs modulus for three
different metals is as follows:
steel 2.0 10 11 N m
2

aluminium 7.0 10 10 N m
2

tungsten 3.5 10 11 N m
2

Rank these metals in order of increasing
flexibility.

7 The value of Youngs modulus for
aluminium is 7.0 10 10 N m
2
. An
aluminium rod of radius 5.00 mm used in a
crankshaft in an engine is subjected to a
compressive force during which its length is
decreased by 1.0%. Calculate the value of the
force acting on the crank.The following data for
human bone applies to questions 8 and 9.
Tensile strength = 1.2 10
8
N m
2

Compressive strength = 1.7 10
8
N m
2

Youngs modulus = 1.6 10
10
N m
2

2

Elastic limit = 1.0 10
8
N m
2


8 The human femur has an average cross-
sectional area of 3.0 cm 2 and an unloaded
length of 0.40 m.
a What is the maximum compression that this
bone can tolerate while behaving elastically?
b Are bones more likely to break while
under tension or compression? Discuss.
c The bones of elderly people are said to be
more brittle than those of younger people.
Suggest some reasons why this might be so in
the light of your knowledge of materials.

9 It is estimated that in sporting activities, the
largest compression that a femur of length 40
cm will encounter will be about 0.30 mm.
Calculate the compressive stress on the bone for
this compression of the femur.

10 Use the stressstrain graph to answer the
following questions.
a Which one or more of the materials is brittle?
b Which material is the stiffest?
c Which material is the least stiff?
d Which material is the strongest?
e Which material is the most ductile?
f Which line would correspond to a material
suit-able for building car bodies?

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