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Exercises · 8.3

Q.The stress-strain graphs for materials A and B are shown in Fig. 8.10.

Fig 8.10 -- Stress-strain graphs for materials A and B, drawn to the same scale
Figure 8.10
The graphs are drawn to the same scale.
(a) Which of the materials has the greater Young's modulus?
(b) Which of the two is the stronger material?
Telangana TsbieTextbookSubjective· 3mImportance★★★★★est
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✓ Free question

Young's modulus is the slope of the elastic (straight) part of the stress-strain graph, and strength is set by the maximum stress a material can bear before it fractures. Material A's line is steeper, so A has the greater Young's modulus; A also reaches the higher breaking stress, so A is the stronger material.

Concept

  • Young's modulus Y=stressstrain=Y=\dfrac{\text{stress}}{\text{strain}}= slope of the initial straight portion of the curve. A steeper line means a larger YY.
  • The strength of a material is measured by the maximum (breaking/ultimate) stress it can withstand, i.e. the height of the top of its stress-strain curve.

(a) Greater Young's modulus

Both graphs are drawn to the same scale, so the slopes can be compared directly. In the initial straight region A rises more steeply than B (for the same strain, A supports the greater stress). Hence

YA>YB ⇒ material A has the greater Young’s modulus.Y_A>Y_B\ \Rightarrow\ \textbf{material A has the greater Young's modulus.}

(b) Stronger material

Strength is judged by the stress at the fracture point. Material A's curve reaches at least as high a stress as B's before breaking, so A can withstand the greater breaking stress. Therefore material A is the stronger material. Material B stretches to a larger strain but does not bear a greater stress, so B is more ductile, not stronger.

✓Final answer

  1. Material A has the greater Young's modulus (steeper elastic slope).
  2. Material A is the stronger material (it withstands the higher breaking stress).

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