Chapter 13
Elastic Properties of Materials
GOALS
When you have mastered the contents of this chapter, you will be able to
achieve the following goals:
Definitions
Define each of the following terms, and use it in an operational definition:
elastic body
Young's modulus
stress
bulk modulus
strain
modulus of rigidity
elastic limit
Hooke's Law
State Hooke's law.
Stress and Strain
Calculate the strain and stress for various types of deformation.
Elasticity Problems
Solve problems involving the elastic coefficients.
PREREQUISITES
Before you begin this chapter, you should have achieved the goals of Chapter 4,
Forces and Newton's Law, Chapter 5, Energy, and Chapter 8, Fluid Flow.
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Chapter 13
Elastic Properties of Materials
OVERVIEW
This is a short but important chapter concerning the reaction of materials to
deforming forces. The recognized method for reporting these results for various
materials is a number called Modulus, which is simply the ratio of stress to
strain. Thus Young's Modulus, the Modulus of Rigidity, and the Bulk Modulus
rate a material's reaction to forces producing elongation, change in volume, or
sheer distortion respectively.
SUGGESTED STUDY PROCEDURE
Before you begin to study this chapter, be familiar with the Chapter Goals:
Definitions, Hooke's Law, Stress and Strain, and Elasticity Problems. An
expanded discussion of each of the terms listed under the Definitions goal can be
found in the Definitions section of this Study Guide chapter.
Next, read text sections 13.1-13.5, and consider the Example problems
discussed. Please note the three major measures of elastic properties of matter
outlined in table 13.1 on page 297. These are Young's Modulus, the Modulus of
Rigidity and the Bulk Modulus. At the end of the chapter, read the Chapter
Summary and complete Summary Exercises 1-11. Check your answers against
those given on page 301. Now do Algorithmic Problems 1-5 and do Exercises and
Problems 1, 2, 5 and 6. For additional work, turn to the Examples section of this
Study Guide chapter and complete each problem. Now you should be prepared
to attempt the Practice Test found at the end of this Study Guide chapter. If you
have difficulty with any of the answers, please refer to the appropriate text
section for additional assistance.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Chapter Goals
Suggested Summary Algorithmic Exercises
Text Readings Exercises Problems
& Problems
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Definitions
13.1,13.2
1-9
Hooke's Law
13.3
3
Stress and Strain
13.4,13.5
1,2,4
Elasticity Problems 13.4,13.5
10,11
5
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1,2,5,6
DEFINITIONS
ELASTIC BODY - Any material or body which is deformed by an applied force and
returns to its original shape after the distorting force is removed.
We often think of elastic materials as the ones most easily distorted from the
original shape, such as rubber bands. In physics, a high elastic material requires a
large force to produce a distortion. This notion is contrary to the common use of
the word.
STRESS - Ratio of the applied force to the area.
This is the force applied to change the shape of an object.
STRAIN - Ratio of change in a given physical dimension to the original dimension; i.e.,
change in length to original length, or change in volume to original volume.
This is the measure of the changes in shape of an object acted upon by a stress.
ELASTIC LIMIT - Limit of distortion for which deformed body returns to original
shape after deforming force is removed.
Many students have their lives so stretched by college that they cannot return to
their original life. Have they exceeded their elastic limit?
YOUNG'S MODULUS - Elastic constant of proportionality for a linear deformation.
For most solids this is a large number ~1010 N/m2. To stretch most solids by even
1% we would need to apply a pressure of about 1000 times the pressure of the
atmosphere.
BULK MODULUS - Elastic constant of proportionality for a deformation of volume.
This can be measured by squeezing an object in a hydrostatic press and
measuring its change in volume.
MODULUS OF RIGIDITY - Elastic constant of proportionality for a shear deformation.
Some materials, such as graphite, shear much more easily in one direction than
in others.
EXAMPLES
ELASTICITY PROBLEMS
1. A measuring device is able to apply a force of 1.0 x 105 N. A student wishes to
use the device to study the elastic properties of a 1 cm cube of steel. What is the
student likely to find?
What Data Are Given?
The applied force = 1.0 x 105 N. The material being studied is steel whose elastic
coefficients are given in Table 13.1.
What Data Are Implied?
It is assumed that the applied force is not too great so as to exceed the elastic
limit of the steel sample.
What Physics Principles Are Involved?
We can make use of the basic definitions of the linear, bulk, and shear
deformations. Then we can predict what will happen in each case.
What Equations Are to be Used?
Linear deformation ΔL/L = (l/Y) (F/A)
(13.5)
Bulk deformation ΔV/V = (-l/β)P
(13.7)
Shear deformation φ = (l/n)(F/A)
(13.8)
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Algebraic Solutions
These are all given above, since we wish to predict the kinds of deformations that will
occur in each case.
Numerical Solutions
1) Suppose the student applies the 1.0 x 105 N force across the ends of the cube to
stretch it. Then its length will be changed
ΔL/L = (l/Y)(F/A) = (m2/ (10.0 x 1010 N)) x ((1.0 x 105 N)/(1 x 10-4 m2))
ΔL/L = 5.0 x 10-3. The new length = 1.005 cm.
2) Suppose the student uses the device to apply a 1.0 x 105 N force to each of the
six faces of the cube; then the volume of the cube will be decreased.
ΔV/V = (-l/β)P = ((-1)m2)/(16.0 x 1010N) = (1.0 x 105 N)/10-4m2
ΔV/V = -6.3 x 10-3; new volume = 9.937 x 10-7 m3
3) Suppose the student uses the device to apply a 1.0 x 105 N force tangent to the
top of the cube while holding the bottom fixed, then the cube will be
deformed by an angle φ where
φ = ((1 m2)/(8.0 x 1010 N)) x ((1.0 x 105 N)/(1 x 10-4 m2)) = 1.25 x 10-2 radians
φ = 0.72ø; so the sides of the cubes are inclined 0.72ø from vertical.
Thinking About the Answers
For which case is the elastic energy the greatest? In each case Hooke's Law is
obeyed so the energy is of the form E = (½) kΔx2 but Δx = F/k so E = (½) F2/k;
The energy is inversely proportional to the elastic constant for a constant force,
so the most elastic energy is stored in the shear case (3) above. From where does
the extra energy come?
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PRACTICE TEST
1. Which of the three elastic moduli (Young's, Bulk, or Rigidity) are most important in
each of the case below?
______a. A front car tire is deformed as the car rounds a turn on a flat dry road.
______b. In the use of a bicycle pump, a cyclist forces down on the pump handle
to force the air into the flat tire.
______c. A workman uses a screwdriver to tighten a screw. (Consider your
answer for the steel shaft of the screwdriver.)
______d. A rubber band is stretched to fit around a pile of loose papers.
2. Design an experiment for finding the elasticity constant for a rubber band. What
equipment is needed? What measurements must be made? What results do you
anticipate?
3. In an experimental test, the following data was collected for stretching a rubber "tiedown" strap:
cross-sectional area, A = 5.3 cm2 ;
length, L = 75 cm;
elongating force, F = 10 Newtons;
length increase, Δx = 4 cm
a. Calculate the stress
b. Calculate the strain
c. Find a value for Young's Modulus for rubber.
ANSWERS
1. Rigidity, Bulk, Rigidity, Young's
2. Your experiment should include known weights to be used to stretch the band. As
the band stretches as each weight is added, the length of stretch should be
measured. The elasticity constant in the ratio of weight to length of stretch. The
results should give a constant K until the band is stretched to near its limits of
elasticity.
3. Stress = 1.9 x 104 N/m2, strain = .05, Young's Modulus = 3.8 x 105 N/m2
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