DEFORMATION OF SOLIDS WORKSHEET

1 The following spring is made horizontal by attaching it to points A and B, as shown in Fig. 1.1.

slider spring
cart, mass 1.7 kg v support
A B

Fig. 1.1

Point A is on a movable slider and point B is on a fixed support. A cart of mass 1.7 kg has horizontal
velocity v towards the slider. The cart collides with the slider. The spring is compressed as the cart
comes to rest. The variation of compression x of the spring with force F exerted on the spring is
shown in Fig. 1.2.
4.5

3.5

F/N

2.5

1.5
0.5 1.0 1.5 2.0
x / cm
Fig. 1.2

Fig. 1.2 shows the compression of the spring for F = 1.5 N to F = 4.5 N. The cart comes to rest
when F is 4.5 N.

(a) Use Fig. 1.2 to

(i) show that the compression of the spring obeys Hooke’s law,

...........................................................................................................................................

...........................................................................................................................................

.......................................................................................................................................[2]
 2

(ii) determine the spring constant of the spring,

spring constant = ................................................ N m–1 [2]

(iii) determine the elastic potential energy EP stored in the spring due to the cart being brought to
rest.

EP = ....................................................... J [3]
(b) Calculate the speed v of the cart as it makes contact with the slider. Assume that all the kinetic
energy of the cart is converted to the elastic potential energy of the spring.

speed = ................................................. m s–1 [2]

2 Fig. 2.1 shows the readings where obtained in an experiment to determine the Young modulus E
of a metal in the form of a wire.
quantity value instrument

diameter d 0.48 mm

length l 1.768 m
 3

5.0 N to 30.0 N
load F in 5.0 N steps

extension e 0.25 mm to 1.50 mm

(a) (i) Complete Fig. 2.1 with the name of an instrument that could be used to measure each of
the quantities. [3]
(ii) Explain why a series of values of F, each with corresponding extension e, are measured.

...........................................................................................................................................

.......................................................................................................................................[1]
(b) Explain how a series of readings of the quantities given in Fig. 2.1 is used to determine the
Young modulus of the metal. A numerical answer for E is not required.
...................................................................................................................................................

...................................................................................................................................................

...................................................................................................................................................

...............................................................................................................................................[2]
3 (i) A ductile material in the form of a wire is stretched up to its breaking point. On Fig. 4.1, sketch
the variation with extension x of the stretching force F.

F ductile material

0
0 x

Fig. 4.1 [1]

(ii) On Fig. 4.2, sketch the variation with extension x of the stretching force F for a brittle material
up to its breaking point.

F brittle material

0
0 x
 4

Fig. 4.2 [1]

(b) Describe a similarity and a difference between ductile and brittle materials.

similarity:

...................................................................................................................................

...................................................................................................................................................

difference:

.................................................................................................................................

...................................................................................................................................................
[2]

4 (a) Define the Young modulus.

...................................................................................................................................................

.............................................................................................................................................. [1]

(b) Two wires P and Q of the same material and same original length l0 are fixed so that they hang
vertically, as shown in Fig. 5.1.

l0 l0
P Q

F F

Fig. 5.1 (not to scale)

The diameter of P is d and the diameter of Q is 2d. The same force F is applied to the lower
end of each wire.

Show your working and determine the ratio

(i) stress in P ,
stress in Q
 5

ratio = ......................................................... [2]

(ii) strain in P .
strain in Q

ratio = ......................................................... [2]

5 A spring hangs vertically from a point P, as shown in Fig. 4.1.

P
metre rule spring

mass M
reading x

Fig. 4.1

A mass M is attached to the lower end of the spring. The reading x from the metre rule is taken, as
shown in Fig. 4.1. Fig. 4.2 shows the relationship between x and M.
0.60

0.40

M / kg

0.20

0
20 22 24 26 28 30 32
x / cm
 6

Fig. 4.2

(a) Explain how the apparatus in Fig. 4.1 may be used to determine the load on the spring at the
elastic limit.

...................................................................................................................................................

...................................................................................................................................................

...................................................................................................................................................

...............................................................................................................................................[2]

(b) State and explain whether Fig. 4.2 suggests that the spring obeys Hooke’s law.

...................................................................................................................................................

...................................................................................................................................................

...............................................................................................................................................[2]

(c) Use Fig. 4.2 to determine the spring constant, in N m–1, of the spring.

spring constant = ................................................ N m–1 [3]

6 Energy is stored in a metal wire that is extended elastically.
(a) Explain what is meant by extended elastically.

..........................................................................................................................................

..................................................................................................................................... [2]
7 (a) Define

(i) stress,

..............................................................................................................................[1]

(ii) strain.

..............................................................................................................................[1]
(b) The Young modulus of the metal of a wire is 0.17 TPa. The cross-sectional area of the wire
is 0.18 mm2.
The wire is extended by a force F. This causes the length of the wire to be increased by
0.095 %.
Calculate
 7

(i) the stress,

stress = ............................................ Pa [4]

(ii) the force F.

F = ............................................. N [2]

8 (a) Explain what is meant by strain energy (elastic potential energy).

..........................................................................................................................................

..........................................................................................................................................

.................................................................................................................................... [2]

(b) A spring that obeys Hooke’s law has a spring constant k.

Show that the energy E stored in the spring when it has been extended elastically by an
amount x is given by

E = 12kx 2.
 8

[3]

(c) A light spring of unextended length 14.2 cm is suspended vertically from a fixed point, as
illustrated in Fig. 4.1.

fixed point fixed point fixed point

14.2 cm
16.3 cm
17.8 cm

3.8 N
F 3.8 N

Fig. 4.1 Fig. 4.2 Fig. 4.3

A mass of weight 3.8 N is hung from the end of the spring, as shown in Fig. 4.2. The length
of the spring is now 16.3 cm.

An additional force F then extends the spring so that its length becomes 17.8 cm, as shown
in Fig. 4.3.

The spring obeys Hooke’s law and the elastic limit of the spring is not exceeded.

(i) Show that the spring constant of the spring is 1.8 N cm–1.
 9

[1]

(ii) For the extension of the spring from a length of 16.3 cm to a length of 17.8 cm,

1. calculate the change in the gravitational potential energy of the mass on the spring,

change in energy = ............................................. J [2]

2. show that the change in elastic potential energy of the spring is 0.077 J,

[1]

3. determine the work done by the force F.

 10

work done = ............................................. J [1]

3 A spring having spring constant k hangs vertically from a fixed point. A load of weight L, when hung
from the spring, causes an extension e. The elastic limit of the spring is not exceeded.
(a) State
(i) what is meant by an elastic deformation,

..................................................................................................................................

..................................................................................................................................

............................................................................................................................ [2]

(ii) the relation between k, L and e.

............................................................................................................................ [1]

(b) Some identical springs, each with spring constant k, are arranged as shown in Fig. 4.1.

arrangement total extension spring constant of

arrangement

…………………… ……………………

…………………… ……………………
L
 11

…………………… ……………………

Fig. 4.1

The load on each of the arrangements is L.

For each arrangement in Fig. 4.1, complete the table by determining

(i) the total extension in terms of e,

(ii) the spring constant in terms of k.

[5]

4 A spring is placed on a flat surface and different weights are placed on it, as shown in Fig. 2.1.
weights

spring

Fig. 2.1

The variation with weight of the compression of the spring is shown in Fig. 2.2.
 12

compression
/ cm
3

0
0 10 20 30 40
weight / N

Fig. 2.2

The elastic limit of the spring has not been exceeded.

(a) (i) Determine the spring constant k of the spring.

k = ........................................... N m–1 [2]

(ii) Deduce that the strain energy stored in the spring is 0.49 J for a compression of 3.5 cm.
 13

[2]

(b) Two trolleys, of masses 800 g and 2400 g, are free to move on a horizontal table. The spring
in (a) is placed between the trolleys and the trolleys are tied together using thread so that the
compression of the spring is 3.5 cm, as shown in Fig. 2.3.

thread

spring
trolley trolley
mass 800g mass 2400g

Fig. 2.3

Initially, the trolleys are not moving.

The thread is then cut and the trolleys move apart. (i)

Deduce that the ratio

speed of trolley of mass 800 g

speed of trolley of mass 2400 g

is equal to 3.0.

[2]

(ii) Use the answers in (a)(ii) and (b)(i) to calculate the speed of the trolley of mass 800 g.