Chapter 1.

Properties of solids
Deforming Force
Q. 1 What is Deformation?
Ans.: The change in shape or size of body after application of external forced is called
deformation.
Q. 2 Define deforming force. (W-07, W-08, S-09, W-11, S-12)
Ans.: Deforming force is defined as the external force which changes the shape and size of
body after its application.
Restoring Force
Q. 3 Define Restoring force. (W-07, W-08, W-11, S-12)
Ans.: Restoring force is defined as internal force developed in a body, in order to regain its
original size and shape after application of deforming force.
Elastic body
Q. 4 What is elastic property and elastic body? (S-11)
Ans.: 1. Elastic property: It is a ability of body to regain its original dimensions after
removal of deforming force.
2. Elastic body: It is defined as body which regains its original size and shape after removal
of deforming forces.
Elasticity
Q. 5 Define elasticity. (S-13)
Ans.: It is defined as a property of the body by virtue of which it tends to regain its original
shape or size on removal of deforming forces.
Plastic Body
Q.6 Define plastic body.
Ans.: Plastic body is defined as if a body does not regain its original size and shape after
removal of deforming forces.
Plasticity
Q.7 Define plasticity. (W-10, S-13)
Ans.: Plasticity is defined as a property of the body by virtue of which it tends to remain
deformed and does not regain its original size and shape after removal of deforming forces.

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Stress
Q. 8 Define stress. (W-07, S-09, W-09, S-10, W-11, W-13)
Ans.: Stress is defined as the internal restoring force per unit cross sectional area of the
body.
Stress =

Internal Restoring Force

Cross Sectional Area

F
A

Q. 9 State SI unit of stress. (W-07, W-08, S-09, S-11, W-11, S-12)

Ans.: S. I. Unit of stress is

N
2
m
Types of Stress

Q. 10 State types of stress. (S-11)

Ans.: There are four types of stress: 1. Tensile Stress (Longitudinal Stress) 2. Compressive
Stress (Normal Stress) 3. Volumetric Stress 4 Shear Stress
Tensile Stress
Q. 11 What is tensile stress?
Ans.: Tensile stress is defined as the deforming force applied along the length of the body
unit cross sectional area.

Tensile stress =

S.I. unit is

Aplied Force
Cross Sectional Area

F
A

Mg
2
r

N
m2
Compressive Stress

Q. 12 What is compressive stress?

Ans.: Compressive stress (Compression stress or normal stress) is defined as the restoring
force acting per unit area normal to the surface of the body.
Volumetric Stress
Q. 13 What is volumetric stress?

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Ans.: Volumetric stress is defined as the stress developed in a body due to change in volume
of the body when external force (deforming force) is applied to a body.

Volume stress

Aplied Force
Area

P =

F
A

Volume stress = Change in pressure

Volume stress = dP

S.I. unit is

N
m2
Shear Stress

Q. 14 What is shear stress? State its SI unit

Ans.: Shear stress is defined as stress developed in a body due change in shape of the body
without change in its volume when external force is applied tangentially or parallel to the
surface of the body.

Shearing stress =

S.I. unit is

F
A

N
m2
Strain

Q. 15 Define strain. (W-07, S-09, W-09, S-10, W-11, W-13)

Ans.: Strain is defined as the ratio of change in dimensions to the original dimensions of the
body.
It has no units.
Q. 16 State and explain three types of stain. (W-10, S-11)
Ans.: There are three types of strain
1. Tensile Strain (Longitudinal Strain) 2. Volumetric Strain 3. Shear Strain
Tensile Strain (Longitudinal Strain)

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Q. 17 What is the tensile strain? (W-12)

Ans.: Tensile strain defined as the ratio of change in length of wire to the
original length of wire. (Fig. 1.1)
Tensile strain=

Increase Length
Original Length

l
L

Fig. 1.1
It has no units.
Volumetric Strain
Q. 18 What is the volumetric strain? (W-12)
Ans.: 1. Volumetric strain is defined as the ratio of the change in volume
(dv) without change in shape of body to the original volume (V) of the
body when uniform pressure is applied on a body.

2. If V is the original volume and dv is the change in volume then, Volume strain
=

dv
V

(Fig. 1.2)

It has no units.
Shear Strain
Q. 19 What is the shear strain?
Ans.: 1. Shear strain defined as the ratio of relative displacement between two layers under
the action of force to the distance between two layers.
Refer Fig. 1.3,
2. Relative displacement between opposite faces of
cylinder is dx.
3. Length of cylinder is L.
Fig. 1.3
Shearing strain =

Relative displacement
Lengthof Object

dx
L

= tan

But tan , as is very small.

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dx
L

Elastic Limit
Q. 20 Define elastic limit. (W-06, S-08, W-10, W-11)
Ans.: Elastic limit is defined as maximum stress which can be applied on a body without
permanent deformation of a body.
Hookes Law
Q. 21 State and Explain Hookes law of elasticity. (W-08, W-09,S-10, W-10, S-12)
Ans.: Statement of Hookes law:
Hookes law of elasticity states that within the elastic limits stress developed in a body is
directly proportional to strain produced in it.
Stress Strain

Stress
Strain = Constant

Constant of proportionality is called Modulus of Elasticity.

Modulus of elasticity =

S.I. unit is

Stress
Strain

N
m2 .

Modulus of elasticity is a characteristic of material.

Elastic Coefficient
Q. 22 Define Youngs modulus of elasticity. (W-06, S-07, W-08, S-09, W-09, S-12, W13)
Ans.: Youngs modulus is defined as the ratio of tensile stress to tensile strain when the body
is within elastic limits.

Y=

Longitudinal Stress
Tensile Stress
=
Longitudinal Strain
Tensile Strain
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Mg / r 2
l
L

Mg L
2
lr
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S.I Units

N
m2

Bulk Modulus
[+] Q. 23 Define bulk modulus of elasticity. (W-06, S-07, W-09, S-12, W-13)
Ans. : Bulk modulus is defined as ratio of volumetric stress to volumetric strain when the
body is within the elastic limits.
It is denoted by K.

K=

. N/m2
K=

Negative sign indicates that when pressure increases volume decreases and vice versa.

The ratio

is always negative.

Compressibility
[+] Q. 24 What is compressibility?
Ans. :
Compressibility is defined as fractional change in volume per unit increase in pressure.
Compressibility is reciprocal of bulk modulus of elasticity.

.. m2/N
Compressibility =

SI unit of compressibility is m2/N.

[+] Q. 25 Define modulus of rigidity. Write down its SI unit.

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(W-06, S-07, S-08, W-09, S-12, W-13)

Ans. : Modulus of rigidity is defined as the ratio of shear stress to shear strain when the body
is within elastic limit. Its SI unit is N/m2.
It is denoted by .

N / m2
=

Poissons Ratio
[+] Q. 26 Define Poissons ratio. (W-13)
Ans. : Poissons ratio is defined as within elastic limit the ratio of lateral strain to longitudinal
strain. It is denoted by .

[+] Q. 27 What are the applications of Poissons ratio?

Ans. : Poissons effect is applicable in following fields :
1. Pressurised pipe flow : When air or liquid filled inside is highly pressurized, it exerts
uniform force inside the pipe, resulting in a radial stress inside the pipe. Due to Poissons
effect, the diameter of pipe increases and length of the pipe decreases. The decrease in
length shows noticeable effect on pipe joints.
2. Structural geology : Excessive erosion or sedimentation of the earths crust create or
remove large vertical stresses on under laying rock. Hence the rock expands or contracts
vertically but it gets deformed or contracts vertically but it gets deformed horizontally also
due to Poissons effect. Due to this dormant stress is produced in the rock.
Relation between Y, K and

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[+] Q. 28 State relation between Youngs modulus, bulk modulus, rigidity modulus of
elasticity. (W-06, S-07, W-09, S-12)
Ans. :
Relation between Youngs modulus (Y), bulk modulus (K) and rigidity modulus () of elasticity
is given by,

Or
=

Y=

where Y = Youngs modulus of elasticity

= Modulus of rigidity
K = Bulk modulus of elasticity
Relation between K and Compressibility
[+] Q. 29 State relation between bulk modulus of elasticity and Compressibility. (S-13)
Ans. :
It is defined as the ratio of volume stress to volume strain within elastic limit i.e. it
corresponds to changes in volume.

Volume strain =
and Volume stress = dp
Hence, bulk modulus (k) and can be written as,

Bulk modulus (k) =

Bulk modulus is possessed by solids, liquids and ass. Bulk modulus has the same unity as
those of Youngs modulus. The reciprocal of bulk modulus is called as compressibility.
Behaviour of wire under continuously increasing load

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[+] Q. 30 Using the behaviour of uniform cross section material wire under continuously
increasing load by stress-strain curve, define :
(i) Elastic stress limit
(ii) Yield stress
(iii) Breaking stress (S-11, W-12, S-13)
OR
Explain the behaviour of wire under continuously increasing load. (W-11, S-10)
OR
Explain stress strain diagram. (S-12)
Ans. :

Fig. 1.4
1. During tensile testing of a metal, specimen of a metal is taken in the form of wire or rod.
The specimen is pulled using tensile testing machine by applying loads.

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2. The load values are observed and noted from dial of the machine and corresponding
changes in the gauge length are recorded simultaneously. With the help of an extensometer
attached to the specimen of metal.
3. When stress is uniformly and continuously applied to a metal wire or metal bar, the
material exhibits strain linearly up to point A (Fig 1.4.). Thus between points O and A applied
stress is directly proportional to the strain. Therefore region OA is perfectly elastic region and
the material obeys Hookes law. Point A is called as Elastic limit.
4. Point B is called yield point and stress corresponding to it is known as yielding stress.
5. Region CD is called plastic range. In this region steady increase in strain occurs with
negligible increase in stress.
6. Beyond D, the material loses its shape and becomes thinner and thinner in diameter. The
material of wire ultimately breaks at point E. Hence point E is called breaking point of the
wire.
Ultimate Stress or Breaking Stress
[+] Q. 31 Define ultimate stress?
Ans. : Ultimate stress or breaking stress is defined as the maximum stress the specimens can
with start per initial cross-sectional area.

Ultimate stress

=
Working stress
[+] Q. 32 Define working stress? (S-13)
Ans. :
Working stress is defined as the maximum stress at which specimen is actual subjected per
initial cross-sectional area.
Working stress
=

Factor of safety
[+] Q. 33 Define factor of safety? State the factors on which factor of safety depends ?
(W-06, W-11, S-12, S-13)

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Ans. : Factor of safety is defined as the ratio of ultimate stress to the working stress.

Factor of safety =
Factor of safety depends on :
(a) Wear and tear of material at actual
(b) Magnitude of maximum load subjected on specimen.
(c) Characteristic of load such as fixed or variable.
Elasticity
[+] Q. 34 State the factors affecting the elasticity? (W-12)
Ans. : The elastic properties of solids vary due to following parameters :
1. Effect of stress : Due to application of constant large and repeated cycles of stress on a
body, elasticity of body decrease gradually.

Elasticity
2. Effect of temperature : Generally, a rise in temperature shows a decrease in elastic
properties of metals.
3. Example : At room temperature, carbon filament shows elastic behavior. When it is heated
by passing current through it, carbon filament shows plastic behavior.
4. Effect of hammering and rolling : When crystals are hammered or rolled, the grains are
reduced to smaller units that results in an increase in elastic properties of crystal.
5. Effect of annealing : Annealing is process of heating and then gradually cooling the
material.
6. The annealing process of a metal produces a uniform large crystal grains which results in
decrease of elastic properties.
7. Effect of impurities : Addition of imparity increases the compactness of material. Due to
this elastic property of the material also increases.
8. Example : When small amount of impurities like carbon and potassium are added to
molten iron and gold, it increases their elastic property.
Important Formulae

Sr.

Important Formulae

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S. I.
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No.

Units

1.

N/m2
Stress =

2.

No unit
Strain =

Y=
3.
N/m2

Y=

4.

N/m2

K=V
Negative sign indicates that when pressure increases volume decreases and
vice versa.

5.

m2/N
Compressibility =

6.

N/m2
=

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7.

No unit

Poissons ratio ( ) =
Negative sign indicates that as longitudinal strain increases lateral strain
decreases and vice versa

Relation between Y, K and .

or

8.

Y=

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