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3
Deformation of solids
Safety
The wire should be firmly clamped between the blocks.
The floor may need protection from falling masses and you should keep your feet
clear.
Wear eye protection because eyes must be protected from the wire when it snaps.
3 Fix the marker a distance of at least 2.00 m from the clamped end. Initially add the mass
hanger to tension the wire. This can be done by folding the wire 15 cm from the end and
twisting it tightly, leaving a loop large enough for two or three mass hangers. Consider the
original length of the wire to be from the clamped end to the tape marker. The extension will
be measured using the tape marker.
4 Prepare a table with columns for length, extension, force (weight) and cross-sectional
area.
5 Measure and tabulate the diameter of the wire, taking two perpendicular measurements at
several places. Hence calculate the average cross-sectional area of the wire.
6 Add a 100g mass to the mass hanger and take measurements of the extension and
diameter. Repeat until the wire breaks. If the wire stretches (creeps), wait for it to stop before
taking measurements.
7 Estimate the uncertainty in the measurement of the extension, the diameter of the wire and
its length.
Questions
1 What are the units of the Young modulus?
2 Write down an equation for the extension L of the wire in terms of the load W, the area
of cross section of the wire A, the wires length L and the Young modulus E of the wire
material.
Results
Tabulate your results and then plot a graph of stress against strain. Measure the gradient of
your graph in order to determine the Young modulus of the wire.
Discussion
1 What is the greatest source of error in this experiment?
2 Estimate the percentage uncertainty in your result.
Teacher Notes
Aims
To measure the Young modulus for copper.
To implement relevant safety precautions when stretching a copper wire.
To plot a stressstrain graph and use it to find the Young modulus.
Safety
The wire should be firmly clamped between the blocks and to the bench using the G-
clamp.
The floor may need protection from falling masses, so students should keep their feet
clear.
Eyes must be protected at all times with safety glasses for when the wire snaps.
CLEAPSS reference: laboratory handbook/CD-ROM section 12.18.
6. Ensure that the triangle used to measure the gradient of the graph is as large as possible in
order to minimise percentage error.
7. The cross-sectional area of the wire will decrease as the wire stretches. Ideally it should be
measured at stages during the experiment, but it is unlikely to affect the outcome.
Answers to questions
stress
1 the Young modulus =
strain
F
stress = units N m2
A
extension
strain = dimensionless
length
The units of the Young modulus are therefore N m2.
WL
2 L =
AE
Discussion
3 The greatest source of error is probably determining the position of the marker tape used
to measure the length/extension. This error will be more significant when the distances are
smaller.
4 The percentage uncertainty of the length is probably significantly greater than the other
uncertainties. If so, it can be used as the percentage uncertainty in the result. If not, the
percentage uncertainties in the individual quantities measured need to be added. Note that the
percentage uncertainty for the diameter must be added in twice because the area of cross
section is proportional to the square of the diameter.
The G-clamp holds the blocks firmly together and clamps them to the bench
Safety
The wire should be firmly clamped between the blocks.
The floor may need protection from falling masses.
Students should keep their feet clear.
Eyes must be protected at all times with safety glasses in case the wire snaps.
CLEAPSS reference: Laboratory Handbook/CD-ROM section 12.18.