Stress & Strain (CIE AS Physics)

As part of a quality check, a manufacturer of dog leads selects a sample of the wires used for the leads to a tensile test. 

The sample of wires used is 3.0 m long and is of constant circular cross–section of diameter 0.92 mm. Hooke’s law is obeyed up to the point when the wire has been extended by 20 mm at a tensile stress of 4.6 × 10⁸ Pa.

The maximum load the wire can support before breaking is 350 N at an extension of 12 cm. 

Fig. 1.1

A different 3.0 m dog lead sample has a larger diameter. It is made of the same material and is subject to the same force. 

Compare the advantages and disadvantages of this dog lead compared to the first.

Calculate the force needed to extend a piece of 3.0 m leather dog leash with a radius of 2.3 mm to change its surface area by 4.1 × 10^–3 m². Assume that the cross–sectional area is kept constant throughout the extension. 

            Young Modulus of leather = 0.05 GPa.

To prevent the walls of old buildings collapsing a metal rod is often used to tie opposite walls together, as shown in Fig. 1.2 below. 

Fig. 1.2

In one case a steel tie rod of diameter 15 mm is used. When the nuts are tightened, the rod extends by 6 %. The Young Modulus of steel is 2.5 × 10¹¹ Pa. 

Calculate the force exerted on the walls by the rod.

Define work done by a force.

A heavy suitcase is placed on a weighing machine consisting of a platform mounted on a spring as shown in Fig. 1.1.

Describe and explain how work is done in this situation.

The diagram in Fig.1.2 shows a suitcase of mass 22.6 kg positioned on the weighing platform.

The platform sinks down 3 cm when the suitcase is placed on it, and then returns to its original position when the suitcase is removed.

Calculate the spring constant of the spring.

For the weighing platform described in part (c) sketch a graph to show the known properties of the spring.

Nichrome is a common alloy used to make coins and heating elements in electrical appliances. It consists of 80% by volume of nickel and 20% by volume of chromium.

Determine the mass of nickel and the mass of chromium required to make a wire of nichrome of volume 0.50 × 10⁻³ m³.

Density of nickel = 8.9 × 10³ kgm³

Density of chromium = 7.1 × 10³ kgm³

To calculate the breaking stress of the nichrome wire both the cross-sectional area of the wire and the applied load must be known.

For each value, briefly describe an experimental method to determine the value, mentioning any equipment required.

The diameter of the nichrome wire is 5.7 mm. The wire breaks under an applied force of 72 kN.

Calculate the breaking stress of nichrome.