ELASTICITY

ELASTICITY Property of a material to change

its length, size or shape to when there is a
deformation force acting on it.
F
F
L

ELASTICITY
F
L

F=0

For small forces, the material will deform proportional to the

force but will return to its normal shape once the force is
removed.

ELASTICITY
F

F=0
L

For large forces, the material either will deform irreversibly or

break. (When this happens the material is no longer elastic or
not really elastic from the start)

HOOKES LAW
Named after the Scientist Robert Hooke (1635 1703) who also is a
contemporary of Isaac Newton.

Within the elastic limit of a body, the deforming force (F) is

directly proportional to the change in length of the body (x)
Fx

F
L = x

F = kx

k force constant of the

material (N/m or dyne/cm)

Force (F) - applies to small forces that can deform the

material or body but DOES NOT break or deform it
permanently. If the applied force is removed, the material
returns to its original form.

HOOKES LAW
Work done by a deforming force (We) = Net Ue
F2
F1
x2

x1

Ue = kx2
Net Ue = U2 U1

We = kx22 kx12
1

We = k (x22 x12)

ELASTIC MODULUS
An elastic modulus, or modulus of elasticity,
The mathematical description of an object or substance's tendency to
be deformed elastically (i.e., non-permanently) when a force is applied to it.
It is a constant value like density which is unique per material.
The elastic modulus of an object is defined as the slope or ratio of its
stress to its strain.
All these moduli follow Hookes Law.

3 Most Common of Elastic Moduli

1. Youngs Modulus (Y)
2. Shear Modulus (S)
3. Bulk Modulus (B)

All Moduli follow the same format

Modulus = Stress / Strain
M = /
Units : MKS: N/m2 or Pa Pascals
English : psi pound per square inch

YOUNGS MODULUS
Named after the British Scientist: Thomas Young.
The ratio of longitudinal stress to longitudinal strain
This measures the stiffness of the solid material against deformation by tension
or compression:

Y = L /L

Where

Y : Youngs Modulus
L : Longitudinal Stress
L : Longitudinal Strain
Units for Youngs Modulus (Y) :
MKS: N/m2 or Pa Pascals
English : psi pound per square inch

YOUNGS MODULUS
Longitudinal Stress (L)
Simplest elastic behavior is seen in the stretching of a bar, rod, or
wire. The ratio of the force (F) to the cross-sectional area (A).
This is usually the longitudinal elastic limit.
F
F

L = F/A
Where

F : Tension or Compressive Force acting along

the length of the material
A : Cross-Sectional Area
Unit :
MKS: N/m2 or Pa Pascals
English : psi pound per square inch

YOUNGS MODULUS
Longitudinal Strain (L)
Refers to the ratio of the change in length due to the applied force
to its original length

L = L/LO
Where

L : Change in length of the material

LO : Original Length of the material

LO

Unit : Unitless
L is not just at the ends, but rather in every part of the material.
Tensile Strain is referred to as the ratio of the elongation to the original length.
Compressive Strain is referred to as the ratio of the decrease in length (squeeze)
to the original length.

YOUNGS MODULUS
Force Constant (k)
We can derive Hookes Law as well as the formula for force
constant from the Youngs Modulus Formula :

Y = L /L = (F/A)/(L/LO)
Simplifying :

Y = [FLO]/[A(L)]
But L = x

Y = [FLO]/[Ax]
Rearranging to solve for F

F = (YA/LO) x = kx (Hookes Law)

Y,A, & LO are constants and we can have this as k ( force constant)

k = YA/LO

SHEAR MODULUS
This is the Modulus of Elasticity for shear stress to shear strain.
It is also known as the Modulus for Rigidity or the Torsion Modulus.
This describes the material's response to shearing strains.

S = S /S
Where

S : Shear Modulus
S : Shear Stress
S : Shear Strain
Units for Shear Modulus (S) :
MKS: N/m2 or Pa Pascals
English : psi pound per square inch

The big difference here is that the force is not

applied longitudinally, but tangentially (forces are
applied on the edge or side. i.e. twisting). Consider
a square plate.

SHEAR MODULUS
Shear Stress (S)
Refers also to the ratio of the force to the cross-sectional area.
Note once again the force applied is applied at the edge or side
of the structure or body.

S = F/A
Where

F : Shearing Force
A : Cross-Sectional Area
Unit :
MKS: N/m2 or Pa Pascals
English : psi pound per square inch

SHEAR MODULUS
Shear Strain (S)
Refers to the ratio of the transverse displacement (x) to the initial
length (h).

L = x/h = tan
Unit : Unitless

BULK MODULUS
The bulk or volume modulus (B) of a substance measures the substance's resistance to
uniform compression. Evident if body is submerged in liquid.
It is defined as the pressure increase needed to cause a given relative decrease in volume.
Materials here may be either be of solid or fluids (liquid and gases).

B = P /V
Where

B : Bulk Modulus
P : Bulk Stress or Change in Pressure
V : Bulk Strain
Units for Bulk Modulus (B) :
MKS: N/m2 or Pa Pascals
English : psi pound per square inch

BULK MODULUS
Pressure or Bulk Stress (P)
We refer this as the ratio of compressive force acting per unit
area of the surface of the body.

P = F/A
Where

F : Uniform Compressive Force

A : Total Surface Area
Unit :
This is also in Pa or psi, but commonly
used unit for Pressure is Atmosphere
(Atm)

1 Atm = 1.013 x 105 Pa = 14.7 psi

BULK MODULUS
Bulk Strain (V)
Refers to the ratio of the change in volume to its original volume

V = V/VO
Where

V : Change in volume of the

material
VO : Original volume of the
material
Unit : Unitless

BULK MODULUS
Bulk Modulus is in unit Pa or psi or Atm.

B = P /V

The negative sign here is used to make

this a positive value. Since the change in
volume is always negative.

The Compressibility (K) of a material is just the reciprocal of Bulk Modulus

K= 1/B = V /P

SAMPLE PROBLEMS
1. What is the maximum load that can be supported by an Aluminum wire 0.05 inch in
diameter without exceeding the elastic limit (stress) of 14,000 psi ? If the wire was
originally 20ft long, how much will it elongate (Neglect the weight of the wire).
Given :
D = 0.05in
L = 14,000 lb/in2
Lo = 20 ft
YAl = 10x106 lb/in2

Reqd :
(a) Wmax
(b) L

Solution :
(a) Max. Load :
Wmax = F
L = F/A
F = LA
A = D2/4 = (0.05in)2/4 = 1.963x10-3 in2
F = (14,000 lb/in2) (1.963x10-3 in2)

F = 27.5 lb

SAMPLE PROBLEMS
1. What is the maximum load that can be supported by an Aluminum wire 0.05 inch in
diameter without exceeding the elastic limit (long. stress) of 14,000 psi ? If the wire was
originally 20ft long, how much will it elongate (Neglect the weight of the wire).
Given :
D = 0.05in
L = 14,000 lb/in2
Lo = 20 ft
YAl = 10x106 lb/in2

Reqd :
(a) Wmax
(b) L

Solution :
(b) L
YAL = L /L
L = L /YAL
L = (14,000 lb/in2)/(10x106 lb/in2)
L = (14,000 lb/in2)/(10x106 lb/in2)
L = 1.4x10-3
L = L / LO
L = LLO = (1.4X10-3)(20ft)

L = 0.028 ft

SAMPLE PROBLEMS
2. A copper wire 8m long and a steel wire 4m long, each of cross section 0.5 cm2 are
fastened end-to-end and stretched with a tension of 500N. (a) What is the change in
length of each wire? (b) What is the elastic potential energy of the system. (Neglect the
weight of the wires).
Given :
Reqd :
LCu = 8m , LSt = 4m
A = 0.5cm2 = 5 x 10-5m2
(for BOTH Copper & Steel Wire) (a) LCu & LSt
T = 500N
(b) Ue
YCu = 1.1 x1011 N/m2
YSt = 2 x1011 N/m2

SAMPLE PROBLEMS
2. A copper wire 8m long and a steel wire 4m long, each of cross section 0.5 cm2 are
fastened end-to-end and stretched with a tension of 500N. (a) What is the change in
length of each wire? (b) What is the elastic potential energy of the system. (Neglect the
weight of the wires).
Given :
Reqd :
(a) Solution
LCu = 8m , LSt = 4m
Y = [FLO]/[A(L)]
A = 0.5cm2 = 5 x 10-5m2
L = [FLO]/[AY]
(Area for BOTH Copper & Steel Wire)
(a) LCu & LSt
For Copper
T = 500N
(b) PEe
LCu = [TLCu]/[AYCu]
YCu = 1.1 x1011 N/m2
LCu = [(500)(8)]/[(5x10-5)(1.1x1011)]
YSt = 2 x1011 N/m2

LCu = 7.273 x10-4 m

For Steel
LSt = [TLSt]/[AYSt]
LCu = [(500)(4)]/[(5x10-5)(2x1011)]

LSt = 2x10-4 m

SAMPLE PROBLEMS
2. A copper wire 8m long and a steel wire 4m long, each of cross section 0.5 cm2 are
fastened end-to-end and stretched with a tension of 500N. (a) What is the change in
length of each wire? (b) What is the elastic potential energy of the system. (Neglect the
weight of the wires).
(b) Solution

Ue = UCu + USt
For Copper
UCu = kCuxCu2
xCu =LCu = 7.273x10-4 m
kCu = YCuA/LCu = (1.1x1011)(5x10-5)/(8)
kCu = 687,500 N/m
UCu = (687,500)(7.273x10-4)2
UCu = 0.182 J

For Steel
USt = kStxSt2
xSt =LSt = 2x10-4 m
kSt = YStA/LSt = (2x1011)(5x10-5)/(4)
kSt = 2.5x106 N/m
USt = (2.5x106)(2x10-4)2
USt = 0.05 J

Ue = 0.182 J + 0.05 J
Ue = 0.232 J

SAMPLE PROBLEMS
3. A thick physics book is lying on a table, then accidentally forces of magnitude 20 N are
applied in opposite directions to two opposite faces of area 40 cm2. The thickness of the
book is 4.0 cm. The deformation angle () is 10.
a) What is the transverse displacement (x) in mm?
b) What is the shear modulus of the book (in Pascals)?

A = 40 cm2
4 cm

20 N

A = 40 cm2

10
20 N

Given :
F = 20 N
A = 40 cm2 (1m/100cm)2 = 4x10-3 m2
L = 4 cm = 0.04 m
= 10

Reqd :
a) x in mm
b) S in Pa

SAMPLE PROBLEMS
3. A thick physics book is lying on a table, then accidentally forces of magnitude 20 N are
applied in opposite directions to two opposite faces of area 40 cm2. The thickness of the
book is 4.0 cm. The deformation angle () is 10.
a) What is the transverse displacement (x) in mm?
b) What is the shear modulus of the book (in Pascals)?

A = 40 cm2
4 cm

20 N

A = 40 cm2

10
20 N

Solution :
a) S = x/h = tan = tan 10 = 0.176
x/(0.04m) = 0.176
x = (0.176)(0.04 m)
x = 7.053 x 10-3 m

b) S = S/S
S = F/A = (20N/4x10-3 m2)
S = 5,000 Pa
S = 5,000 Pa / 0.176

x = 7.053 mm

S = 28,409.1 Pa

SAMPLE PROBLEMS

4. A steel cannonball is to have its volume reduced by 25%. What is the amount of
pressure needed for this? The compressibility of steel is 6.25x10-12 m2/N.
KST = 6.25x10-12 m2/N
VO

VF

VF is 25% less in volume compared to VO

Hence VF is 75% of VO

VF = 0.75 VO
KST = 1/BST = 6.25x10-12 m2/N
BST = ( 1 / 6.25x10-12 m2/N) = 1.6x1011 N/m2 or 1.6x1011 Pa

SAMPLE PROBLEMS
4. A steel cannonball is to have its volume reduced by 25%. What is the amount of
pressure needed for this? The compressibility of steel is 6.25x10-12 m2/N.
KST = 6.25x10-12 m2/N
VO

VF

VF is 25% less in volume compared to VO

VF = 0.75 VO

BST =1.6x1011 N/m2

V = V/VO
V = VF VO = 0.75VO VO
V = 0.25VO
V = 0.25VO/VO

V = 0.25

Hence VF is 75% of VO

BST = P /V
P = (BST )(V)
P = (BST )(V)
P = (1.6x1011 Pa )( 0.25)

P = 4x1010 Pa

Poisson's ratio ()
If object is stretched : it is the ratio of transverse contraction strain to longitudinal
extension strain in the direction of stretching force (as Illustrated below)
If object is compressed : it is the ratio of transverse extension strain to longitudinal
contraction strain in the direction of compressing force

R
L

R
LO

L = L/LO (Longitudinal extension strain)

T = R/R (Transverse contraction strain)

= T / L

Poisson's ratio ()

Simple Relations between Y, S , B & for Homogeneous Isotropic Materials

Y = 2S(1 + ) = 3B(1 2)

Spring Configuration Variation

1. Springs in Series

2. Springs in Parallel
k1 k2 k3

k1
k2
k3

keq

keq