Use the following figure to answer the following question:
-A steel wire and an aluminum wire of the same length L and diameter d are joined to form a wire of length 2L. The wire is fastened to the ceiling and a mass m is attached to the other end. If the masses of the wires are negligible relative to mass m, the ratio of the stress in the aluminum wire to the stress in the steel wire is
A) less than 1.
B) equal to 1.
C) greater than 1.
D) dependent on mass m.
E) impossible to determine.

Question

Use the following figure to answer the following question:  
-A steel wire and an aluminum wire of the same length L and diameter d are joined to form a wire of length 2L. The wire is fastened to the ceiling and a mass m is attached to the other end. If the masses of the wires are negligible relative to mass m, the ratio of the stress in the aluminum wire to the stress in the steel wire is
A) less than 1. 
B) equal to 1. 
C) greater than 1. 
D) dependent on mass m. 
E) impossible to determine.

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Stress is defined as force per unit area. Since both wires have the same diameter and the same force (due to mass m) is applied, the stress in both wires is equal.

Use the Following Figure to Answer the Following Question