Question

A third wire of the same material has the same length and twice the diameter as the first. How far will it be stretched by the same force

Answer 1

Complete question is;

A force stretches a wire by 0.60 mm. A second wire of the same material has the same cross section and twice the length.

a) How far will it be stretched by the same force?

b) A third wire of the same material has the same length and twice the diameter as the first. How far will it be stretched by the same force?

Answer:

0.15 mm

Explanation:

According to Hooke's Law,

E = Stress(σ)/Strain(ε)

Where E is youngs modulus

Formula for stress is;

Stress(σ) = Force(F)/Area(A)

Formula for strain is;

Strain(ε) = Change in length/original length = (Lf - Li)/Li

We are also told that a second wire of the same material has the same cross section and twice the length.

Thus;

Rearranging Hooke's Law to get the constants on one side, we have;

F/(AE) = ε

Thus from the conditions given;

ε1 = 0.6/Li

ε2 = (Change in length)/(2*Li)

And ε1 = ε2

Thus;

0.6/Li = Change in length/(2*Li)

Li will cancel out and we now have;

Change in length = 2 × 0.6 = 1.2 mm

Finally, we are told A third wire of the same material has the same length and twice the diameter as the first.

Area of a circle;A1 = πd²/4

Now, we are told d is doubled.

Thus, new area of the new circle is;

A2 = π(2d)²/4 = πd²

Rearranging Hooke's Law,we have;

F/A = εE

Since F and E are now constants, we have;

F/E = constant = Aε

Thus;

A1(ε1) = A2(ε2)

A1 = πd²/4

e1 = 0.60/Li

A2 = πd²

e2 = Change in length/Li

Thus;

((πd²/4) × 0.6)/Li = (πd² × Change in length)/ Li

Rearranging, Li and πd² will cancel out to give;

0.6/4 = Change in length

Change in length = 0.15 mm