Mechanical Properties - I Physics

Deformation: The change in shape or size or both of a body due to an external force

Deforming Forces: Force responsible for the deformation in any object.

Elasticity: The property of a body, by virtue of which it tends to regain its original
size and shape when the applied force is removed, is known as
elasticity and the deformation caused is known as elastic deformation.

The elastic behaviour of materials plays an important role in

engineering design. For example, while designing a building,
knowledge of elastic properties of materials like steel, concrete etc.

Plasticity: The property of a body, by virtue of which it has no gross tendency to

its original size and shape when the applied force is removed, is known
as elasticity and the deformation caused is known as elastic
deformation. Putty and mud are close to ideal plastics.

Q) What is Stress? State the SI unit of stress.

When a body is subjected to a deforming force, a restoring force is developed in the body.
This restoring force is equal in magnitude but opposite in direction to the applied force.

The restoring force per unit area is known as stress.

Internal Restoring Force
∴ Stress =
Applied c s Area
F
∴ Stress =
A
The SI unit of stress is N m–2 or pascal (Pa)

and it’s dimensional formula is [ M L–1T–2 ]

Stress is of three types :

(1) Longitudinal Stress

(2) Volume Stress
(3) Shear Stress

Q) Define Strain

It is define as the change in dimension to the original dimension.

Change in Dimension
Strain =
Origional Dimension

dD
Strain = It has no dimension as it is ratio of two similar quantities.
D

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 Mechanical Properties - I Physics

Q) Define stress and strain. What are their different types?

There are three ways in which a solid may change its

dimensions when an external force acts on it.

A cylinder is stretched by two equal forces applied normal

to its cross-sectional area. The restoring force per unit area
in this case is called tensile stress.

If the cylinder is compressed under the action of applied

forces, the restoring force per unit area is known as
compressive stress.

Tensile or compressive stress can also be termed as longitudinal stress.

In both the cases, there is a change in the length of the cylinder. The change in the length
ΔL to the original length L of the body (cylinder in this case) is known as longitudinal strain.

F
Longitudinal Stress = A

𝑑𝐷 𝑙
Longitudinal Strain = =
𝐷 𝐿

Similarly when changes is associated with the volume,

F
Volume Stress = N m2
A
dD ∆V
Volume Strain = =
D V

If two equal and opposite deforming forces are applied parallel to the cross-sectional area of
the shape, as shown there is relative displacement between the opposite faces of the shape

The restoring force per unit area developed due to the applied tangential force is known as
tangential or shearing stress. The strain so produced is known as shearing strain.
Mathematically
F 𝑑𝐷
Stress = & Strain = = tan 𝜃
𝐴𝑡 𝐷

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 Mechanical Properties - I Physics

Q) Distinguish between elasticity and plasticity

Q) State Hooke’s law. Draw a labelled graph of tensile stress against tensile strain
for a metal wire up to the breaking point. In this graph show the various regions.

Hooke’s Law : stress is directly proportional to strain, Within elastic limit.

Stress ∝ Strain

Stress
= Constant
Strain

The constant is called the modulus of elasticity.

S.I Unit is same as Stress, N/m2

because strain is having no unit.

There are 3 types of modulus of elasticity

 Young’s Modulus
 Bulk Modulus
 Modulus of Rigidity

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 Mechanical Properties - I Physics

Q) What is Young’s modulus? Describe an experiment to find out Young’s modulus

of material in the form of a long string wire.
 Consider a metal wire of length ‘L’ having radius ‘r’ suspended from a rigid support.
 A load ‘mg’ is attached to the free end of the wire. Due to this, deforming force gets
applied to the free end of wire in downward direction.
 It produces change in length of wire ‘l’
In its equilibrium position, within the elastic limit
Stress ∝ Strain
Stress
= Constant
Strain
When changes is associated with the length,
Constant is known as Young’s Modulus and
It is defined as the ratio of longitudinal stress to the longitudinal strain
Longitudinal Stress
Y=
Longitudinal Strain
FL
Y=
A𝑙

Q) What is Bulk modulus & Modulus of Rigidity?

Bulk Modulus: It is defined as the ratio of Volume stress to the volume strain.
Volume Stress
K=
Volume Strain
Modulus of Rigidity: It is defined as the ratio of Shear stress to the shear strain
Shear Stress
η=
Shear Strain

Q) Define Poisson’s Ratio

Poisson’s Ratio: Within elastic limit, the ratio of lateral strain to the linear strain

Lateral Strain
𝜎=
Longitudinal Strain

𝑑 𝐷
𝜎=
𝑙 𝐿

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 Mechanical Properties - I Physics

Q) Distinguish between Young’s modulus, bulk modulus and modulus of rigidity.

N*) What is the strain in a wire cable of original length 50m whose length increases
by 2.5 cm when a load is lifted?

𝑑𝐷 𝑙
Longitudinal Strain = =
𝐷 𝐿

2.5 × 10−2
Longitudinal Strain = = 5 × 10−4 𝑚 = 0.5 𝑚𝑚
50

N*) What is the stress in a wire which is 50m long and 0.01cm2 in cross section, if the
wire bears a load of 100kg?

F 𝑚𝑔
Longitudinal Stress = =
A 𝐴
100 × 9.81
Longitudinal Stress =
0.01 × 10−4
9.81
Longitudinal Stress = × 102+4+2 = 9.81 × 108 Pa
1

N*) A rubber band originally 30cm long is stretched to a length of 32cm by certain
load. What is the strain produced?

𝑑𝐷 𝑙 32 − 30 2
Longitudinal Strain = = = = = 0.06667 = 6.667 × 10−2
𝐷 𝐿 30 30

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 Mechanical Properties - I Physics

N*) A telephone wire 125m long and 1mm in radius is stretched to a length 125.25 m
when a force of 800N is applied. What is the value of Young’s modulus?

L = 125m r = 1mm =10-3 m l = 0.25m F = 800N

FL FL
Y= =
A𝑙 π𝑟 2 𝑙

FL 800 × 125
Y= 2
=
π𝑟 𝑙 𝜋 × 10−6 × 0.25
8 × 125
= × 102+8
𝜋 × 25
40
= × 1010
𝜋

= 1.27 × 1011 𝑁 𝑚2

N*) A steel wire having cross sectional area 1.2mm2 is stretched by a force of 120N. If
a lateral strain of 1.455 × 10-4 is produced in the wire, calculate the Poisson’s
ratio.
[Given: Ysteel = 2 x 1011N/m2]

Longitudinal Stress Longitudinal stress

Y= ∴ Longitudinal Strain =
Longitudinal Strain Y
Lateral Strain
𝜎=
Longitudinal Strain

Lateral Strain Lateral Strain

𝜎= = ×Y
Longitudinal stress longitudinal stress
Y
120
Longitudinal Stress = = 108 N/m2
1.2 ×10−6

108
Longitudinal Strain = = 5 × 10−4
2 × 1011

1.455 × 10−4
𝜎= = 0.291
5 × 10−4

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 Mechanical Properties - I Physics

N*) A composite wire is prepared by joining a tungsten wire and steel wire end to
end. Both the wires are of the same length and the same area of cross section. If
this composite wire is suspended to a rigid support and a force is applied to its
free end, it gets extended by 3.25mm. Calculate the increase in length of tungsten
wire and steel wire separately. [YTungsten = 4.1 × 1011 Pa & Ysteel = 2 ×1011 Pa]

ls + lT = 3.25mm
YT = 4.1 × 1011Pa &
Ys = 2 ×1011 Pa
FL 1
Y= ∴ Y ∝
A𝑙 𝑙

YT 𝑙𝑠 4.1
= = = 2.05
Ys 𝑙𝑇 2

ls + lT = 3.25…….[1]

ls - 2.05 lT = 0 …. [2]

Solving the above simultaneous equation,

ls = 2.1844mm lT = 1.0655mm

N*) A wire of mild steel as initial length 1.5m and diameter 0.60mm gets extended by
6.3 mm when a force is applied to it. If Ys = 2.1 x 1011 N/m , calculate force.
2

L = 1.5 m r = 0.3 × 10-3 m = 3×10-4 m l = 6.3 × 10-3 m Ys = 2.1 x 1011 N/m

2

FL YA 𝑙 Y π r2 𝑙
Y= ∴ F = =
A𝑙 L L

Y π r2 𝑙 2.1 × 1011 × 𝜋 × 32 × 10−8 × 6.3 × 10−3

F = =
L 1.5
2.1 × 3.14 × 9 × 6.3
= × 1011−8−3
1.5

= 249.4 N

≈ 250N

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 Mechanical Properties - I Physics

N*) A solid metal sphere of volume 0.31m3 is dropped in an ocean where water
pressure is 2×107 N/m2. Calculate change in volume if K = 6.2×1010 N/m2
DATA: V = 0.31m3 dP = 2×107 N/m2 K = 6.1×1010 N/m2

V dP V dP
K= ∴ dV =
dV K

0.31 × 2 × 107
dV =
6.2 × 1010

dV = 1 × 10−4 𝑚3

N) The average depth of Indian Ocean is about 3000 m. Calculate the fractional
compression, ΔV/V, of water at the bottom of the ocean, given that the bulk
modulus of water is 2.2 × 109 N m–2. (Take g = 10 m s–2)

Data : K = 2.2 × 109 N m–2 g = 10 m s–2 h = 3000 m 𝜌𝑤 = 1000 𝑘𝑔/𝑚3

𝑑P = ρ g h

𝑑P = 1000 × 10 × 3000

𝑑P = 3 × 107 𝑁/𝑚2

V dP
K=
dV

𝑑𝑉 dP 3 × 107
= = = 0.01364
𝑉 𝐾 2.2 × 109

N) A square lead slab of side 50 cm and thickness 10 cm is subject to a shearing

force (on its narrow face) of 9.0 × 104 N. The lower edge is riveted to the floor.
How much will the upper edge are displaced? [ Ans : 0.16 mm ]

N) A structural steel rod has a radius of 10 mm and a length of 1.0 m. A 100 kN

force stretches it along its length. Calculate (a) stress, (b) elongation, and
(c) strain on the rod. When Ys is 2.0 × 1011 N m-2. [ Ans : 0.16%]

N) A steel wire of length 4.7 m and cross-sectional area 3.0 × 10-5 m2 stretches by the
same amount as a copper wire of length 3.5 m and cross-sectional area of
4.0 × 10–5 m2 under equal load. What is the ratio of the Young’s modulus of steel
to that of copper? [ Ans : 1.79 : 1 ]

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 Mechanical Properties - I Physics

Q) Derive an expression for strain energy per unit volume of the material of a wire.

Strain Energy: The elastic potential energy gained by a wire during elongation by a
stretching force is called as strain energy.

When a wire is put under a tensile stress, work is done against the inter-atomic forces.
This work is stored in the wire in the form of elastic potential energy.

 When a wire of original length ‘L’,

 Area of cross-section ‘A’ is subjected to
 A deforming force ‘F’ along the length of the wire,
 let the length of the wire be elongated by ‘l’.
FL YA𝑙
Y= ∴F=
A𝑙 L
 for a further elongation of infinitesimal small length dx,
Workdone dW = F × dx
 The amount of work done (W) in increasing the length of the wire from L to L + l,
that is from l = 0 to l = l is given by
𝑙
∫ 𝑑𝑤 = ∫ 𝑓 ∙ 𝑑𝑥
0

𝑙
Y𝐴𝑥
∴ W= ∫ 𝑑𝑥
0 L

YA 𝑙
= ∫ 𝑥 𝑑𝑥
L 0

𝑙
YA 𝑥 2 𝑥𝑛
= [ ] since ∫ 𝑥 𝑛 𝑑𝑥 =
L 2 0 𝑛+1

YA 𝑙 2 YA 𝑙 2 1 𝑌𝐴𝑙 1
= [ − 0] = = × × 𝑙 = × 𝑙𝑜𝑎𝑑 × 𝑒𝑙𝑜𝑛𝑔𝑎𝑡𝑖𝑜𝑛
L 2 2L 2 𝐿 2

Workdone is stored in the form of P.E. known as strain energy,

1
Strain Energy = × 𝑙𝑜𝑎𝑑 × 𝑒𝑙𝑜𝑛𝑔𝑎𝑡𝑖𝑜𝑛
2

Strain Energy per unit volume,

Strain Energy 1 𝑙𝑜𝑎𝑑 𝑒𝑙𝑜𝑛𝑔𝑎𝑡𝑖𝑜𝑛
= × ×
𝑉 2 𝐴 𝐿

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 Mechanical Properties - I Physics

Strain Energy 1
∴ = × 𝑆𝑡𝑟𝑒𝑠𝑠 × 𝑠𝑡𝑟𝑎𝑖𝑛
𝑉 2

Strain Energy stored per unit volume in the wire is called as Resilience.
Longitudinal Stress
Y= Stress = Y × Strain or strain = stress / Y
Longitudinal Strain

Strain Energy 1
= × 𝑌 × 𝑠𝑡𝑟𝑎𝑖𝑛 × 𝑠𝑡𝑟𝑎𝑖𝑛
𝑉 2

Strain Energy 1
= × Y × Strain2
𝑉 2

Strain Energy 1 𝑠𝑡𝑟𝑒𝑠𝑠 2

= ×
𝑉 2 𝑌

Material Behaviour & Stress-Strain Curve

The elastic behaviour of materials plays an important role in everyday life. All engineering
designs require precise knowledge of the elastic behaviour of materials. The relation between
the stress and the strain for a given material under tensile stress can be found experimentally.
In a standard test of tensile properties,

 A test cylinder or a wire is stretched by an applied force.

 The fractional change in length (the strain) and the applied force
needed to cause the strain are recorded.
 The applied force is gradually increased in steps and the change
in length is noted.
 A graph is plotted between the stress and the strain produced.
 A typical graph for a metal is shown in Figure. The stress-strain
curves vary from material to material. These curves help us to
understand how a given material deforms with increasing loads.

From the graph, we can see that in the region between

O to A, The curve is linear. In this region, Hooke’s law is obeyed.
A to B, stress and strain are not proportional. But the body still returns to its original
dimension when the load is removed. The point B is known elastic limit.

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 Mechanical Properties - I Physics

Stress – Strain curve of ductile material

B to C If the load is increased further, strain increases rapidly even for a small change
in the stress. When the load is removed, say at some point C, beyond B the
body does not regain its original dimension. In this case, even when the stress
is zero, the strain is not zero. The material is said to have a permanent set.
The deformation is said to be plastic deformation.
C to D Beyond point C, depending upon the ductile property of material once can see
the variation in CD length. However point D represents the point of failure
where the wire increases considerably and undergoes plastic deformation till it
breaks.

N*) Calculate the work done in stretching a steel wire of length 2m and c/s area
0.0225mm2 when load of 100N is applied to its free end. [ Ys = 2×1011 N/m2 ]
Data : L = 2 m c/s A = 0.0225 × 10-6 mm F = 100N
1
Workdone = × load × 𝑒𝑙𝑜𝑛𝑔𝑎𝑡𝑖𝑜𝑛
2
𝐹𝐿 100 × 2
𝑙= = = 0.0444
𝑌𝐴 2 × 10 × 0.0225 × 10−6
11

100
𝑊= × 0.044 = 2.222 J
2
N*) A wire gets stretched by 4mm due to a certain load. If the same load is applied to
a wire of same material with half the length and double the diameter of the first
wire? What will be the change in its length?
𝐹𝐿 𝐿 𝑙2 𝐿2 𝐷1 2
𝑙= ∴ 𝑙 ∝ 2 ∴ = ×( )
𝑌𝐴 𝐷 𝑙1 𝐿1 𝐷2
0.5𝐿 𝐷 2 1
𝑙2 = 4 × × ( ) = 4 × 0.5 × = 0.5𝑚𝑚
𝐿 2𝐷 4

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 Mechanical Properties - I Physics

Q) What is an elastomer? What do you mean by elastic hysteresis?

A material that can be elastically stretched to a larger value of strain is called an elastomer.

Rubber has large elastic region.(horizontally) It can be stretched so that its length becomes
many times its original length, after removal of the stress it returns to its original state but the
stress strain curve is not a straight line.

Fig : Hysteresis of vulcanized rubber

In case of some materials like vulcanized rubber, when the stress applied on a body decreases
to zero, the strain does not return to zero immediately. The strain lags behind the stress. This
lagging of strain behind the stress is called elastic hysteresis.

Q) Write a short note on Hardness of Material.

Hardness: it is the property of a material which enables it to resist plastic deformation

The term hardness also refers to stiffness or resistance to bending, scratching

abrasion or cutting (shearing)

The greater the hardness, greater is the resistance to deformation.

Diamond is the naturally available hard material and drill bit are manmade
hard product used for various engineering purpose.

Aluminium is soft metallic material.

Hardness of material is different from toughness. Toughness is the ability of a

material to resist fracturing when a force is applied to it. Clay can be said to be
tough because I deformed continuously when force is applied without
breaking.

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 Mechanical Properties - I Physics

Q) Define friction & its type.

“Opposing force, which acts in the opposite direction of the movement along the surface in
contact, is called the force of friction or simply friction.”

In general, the friction is of the following two types:

1. Static friction. It is the friction, experienced by a body, when at rest.

2. Dynamic friction. It is the friction, experienced by a body, when it is in motion.

The dynamic friction is also called kinetic friction and
It is less than the static friction.

Kinetic Friction has following two types:

(a) Sliding friction. : Friction between sliding bodies

(b) Rolling friction. : Friction between balls or rollers

The friction experienced between two dry and unlubricated surfaces in contact is known as
dry or solid friction. It is due to the surface roughness & Intermolecular force of attraction.

Q) Define Limiting Friction

This maximum value of frictional force, which comes into play, when a body just begins to
slide over the surface of the other body, is known as limiting force of friction or simply
limiting friction.

It may be noted that when the applied force is less than the limiting friction, the body remains
at rest, and the friction into play is called static friction which may have any value between
zero and limiting friction.

 Friction always acts in a direction, opposite to that in which the body tends to move.
 The magnitude of friction is exactly equal to the force, which tends the body to move.

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 Mechanical Properties - I Physics

Q) State laws of Static friction.

Static friction: It is the friction, experienced by a body, when at rest.
Following are the laws of solid static friction:
1. Limiting Friction is directly proportional to the normal Reaction of body
2. Friction is independent of the area of the contact.
3. The force of friction depends upon the material of which the contact.
Mathematically,
FL ∝ N
F L = 𝜇𝑠 N
𝜇𝑠 𝑖𝑠 𝑐𝑜𝑛𝑠𝑡𝑎𝑛𝑡 𝑜𝑓 𝑝𝑟𝑜𝑝𝑜𝑟𝑡𝑖𝑜𝑛𝑎𝑙𝑖𝑡𝑦 Known as coefficient of static friction

Q) State laws of kinetic / Dynamic friction.

Dynamic friction: It is the friction, experienced by a body, when it is in motion.
Following are the laws of solid Kinetic friction:
1. Kinetic friction (Fk ) is directly proportional to the normal reaction of body
2. Kinetic friction is independent of apparent area of the surfaces in contact.
3. Force of kinetic friction depends upon the material in contact.
4. The magnitude of the force of kinetic friction is independent of the relative
velocity between the object and the surface provided that the relative velocity is
neither too large nor too small.
Mathematically,
FK ∝ N
F K = 𝜇𝐾 N
𝜇𝐾 𝑖𝑠 𝑐𝑜𝑛𝑠𝑡𝑎𝑛𝑡 𝑜𝑓 𝑝𝑟𝑜𝑝𝑜𝑟𝑡𝑖𝑜𝑛𝑎𝑙𝑖𝑡𝑦 Known as coefficient of Kinetic friction

Q) State few application of Friction.

o We can walk due to friction between ground and feet.

o We can hold object in hand due to static friction.
o Brakes of vehicles work due to friction which reduce speed or stop vehicles.
o Climbing on a tree is possible due to friction.
o Clutches are working on friction
o Bearing and many machines element work because of Friction.

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 Mechanical Properties - I Physics

N*) A body of mass 37 kg rests on a rough horizontal surface. The minimum

horizontal force required to just start the motion is 68.5 N. In order to keep the
body moving with constant velocity, a force of 43 N is needed. What is the value
of a) coefficient of static friction? & b) coefficient of kinetic friction?

Data : m = 37kg FL = 68.5 N Fk = 43N

𝐹𝐿 68.5
F L = 𝜇𝑠 N ∴ 𝜇𝑠 = = = 0.1889
𝑁 37 × 9.81

𝐹𝑘 43
F k = 𝜇𝑘 N ∴ 𝜇𝑘 = = = 0.1185
𝑁 37 × 9.81

N*) A block of mass 37 kg rests on a rough horizontal plane having coefficient of

static friction 0.3. Find force required to just move the block horizontally.

F L = 𝜇𝑠 N

FL = 0.3 × 9.81 × 37 = 108.89 N

N*) Calculate the coefficient of static friction for an object of mass 50 kg placed on
horizontal table pulled by attaching a spring balance. The force is increased
gradually it is observed that object just moves when spring balance shows 50N.

Data :

P = 50 N
Rn = 50 × 9.81 N

F L = 𝜇𝑠 N
𝐹𝐿 50
∴ 𝜇𝑠 = = = 0.102
𝑁 50 × 9.81

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 Mechanical Properties - I Physics

N) Body, resting on a rough horizontal plane required a pull of 180 N inclined at 30º
to the plane just to move it. It was found that a push of 220 N inclined at 30º to
the plane just moved the body. Determine the weight of the body and the
coefficient of friction. [10 Marks ]

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