A college student measures his height just before he goes to bed at night and also right after he gets up in the morning the next day. His measurements are 1.80 m, and 1.82 m, respectively. What is the compressive strain on his body due to the normal force and the gravity that are acting on him all day long?
A) 2/182
B) 2/180
C) 1.82 m-1.80 m
D) 182/180
E) 180/182

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The compressive strain is calculated as the change in length divided by the original length. The change in height is 1.82 m - 1.80 m = 0.02 m, and the original height is 1.82 m. Therefore, the compressive strain is 0.02 m / 1.82 m = 2/182.

A College Student Measures His Height Just Before He Goes