Tensile stress and strain: A very light 1.00-m wire consists of two segments of equal length, one of steel (Young's modulus is 2.00 × 10¹¹ N/m²) and one of brass (Young's modulus is 9.0 × 10¹⁰ N/m²). The steel segment is 1.50 mm in diameter, and the brass segment has twice this diameter. When a weight w is hung from the ceiling by this wire, the steel segment stretches by 1.10 mm. Find the weight w.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The weight w causes a tensile force that results in the same stress in both segments. Using Young's modulus and the given stretch of the steel segment, we can calculate the force and thus the weight.

Tensile Stress and Strain: a Very Light 1