PARTH PUBLIC SCHOOL, GHARAUNDA

CLASS – XI
MECHANICAL PROPERTIES OF SOLIDS (NOTES)

Deforming force
A force is said to be deforming force if it can change shape, size and position of the object.

Restoring force
A force is said to be restoring fore if it brings the object back to its original shape, size and position after the
removal of deforming force.

Elasticity
Elasticity is the property of the body by virtue of which a deformed body regains its original shape, size and
position after the removal of deforming force.
 The elasticity of the object generally decreases with increase in temperature.
 The elasticity of molten cadmium (Z = 48) and molten cupper increases with increase in temperature.
 The elasticity of invar is unaffected with the change in temperature.

Types of object on the basis of elasticity

1. Elastic object:
An object is said to be elastic if it regains its original shape, size and position after the removal of deforming
force.
For example: quartz, rubber, steel, iron etc.

2. Plastic object:
An object is said to be plastic if it doesn’t regain its shape, size and collision after the removal of deforming
force.
For example: polythene, wax, etc.

3. Rigid object:
An object is said to be rigid if it doesn’t get reformed by an external force For example: bricks, stones, etc.

Stress
Stress is defined as the deforming force per unit area. Mathematically,
Deforming force
Stress = Area

It’s unit is N/m2.

Types of stress
1. Normal stress- A stress is said to be normal stress if deforming force is perpendicular to the area of
cross section. Normal stress changes shape and size of the object.

Types of normal stress:

a. Tensile stress: Tensile stress is a type normal stress which can increase the length of the object.

b. Compression stress: Compression stress is a type normal stress which can decrease the length of the
object.

2. Tangential stress:
A stress is said to be tangential if the deforming force is acting in the direction of
area of cross-section (tangentially). It cannot change shape and size but changes
the position of the object.

Strain
Strain is defined as the change in configuration per unit original configuration. (Configuration means length,
volume, angle, etc.). Mathematically,

Since it is the ratio of same physical quantity so it has no unit.

Types of strain
1. Longitudinal strain:

Longitudinal stress is defined as the change in length per unit original length.
Mathematically,
 Δl
Longitudinal strain =
l
e
Longitudinal strain =
l
Where ‘e’ stands for elongation

2. Volumetric strain:
Volumetric strain is defined as the change in volume per unit original volume.

3.
4.
5.
6.

3. Shear strain:
Shear strain is defined as the angle through which an object is sheared with the application of tangential
stress.

Stress-strain curve:

Let us consider a uniform wire is suspended at it’s one end on other end is attached to a scale pan. The
weights on the pan are gradually increased and corresponding elongations are noted. A graph of stress and
strain is plotted as shown in the figure above. Here OA is a straight line and AB is a curve, ‘A’ is called
proportional limit, within the proportional limit stress is directly proportional to strain and B is called elastic
limit, within the elastic limit the object retains elastic property. Beyond the elastic limit (point B), the object
losses its elasticity i.e. the object cannot regain its original shape, size and position after the removal of
deforming force.

Hooke’s law:
Hooke’s law states that within the proportional limit, stress is directly proportional to strain. i.e.
Stress  Strain
Or, Stress = E strain (where ‘E’ is proportionality constant and known as modulus of elasticity.)
Stress
 Modulus of elasticity (E) = Strain

It’s unit is Nm–2.

Experimental verification of Hooke’s Law:

Fig: Verification of Hooke’s law

The experimental setup for the verification of Hooke’s law is shown above. It consists of a experimental
wire, vernier-scale, a hanger with slotted weights. The weights on the hanger are gradually increases and
corresponding elongations of wire are noted.
When a graph of different stress versus corresponding strain is plotted, a straight line passing through origin
is obtained. This shows that stress is directly proportional to the strain which verifies Hooke’s law.

Types of modulus of elasticity

1. Young’s modulus of electricity (Y):
Young’s modulus of electricity is defined as the ratio of normal stress to the longitudinal strain.
It is denoted by ‘Y’ i.e.
It’s unit is Nm–2.

Since Young’s modulus of elasticity ‘Y’ is the property of material and is independent of external
dimensions of the wire.
Note: Young’s modulus of elasticity is given by

1
For same F, l and A, we have Y  e
i.e., Young’se modulus is inversely proportional to elongation.
For example; rubber is less elastic than Steel because elongation produced in the rubber is more than that in
steel. So, Young's modulus of rubber is less. Hence rubber is less elastic. Similarly, elongation produced in
the steel is more than that in rubber. So, Young's modulus of steel is more. Hence steel is more elastic than
rubber.

Determination of young’s modulus of elasticity ‘Y’

Let’s us consider a wire of length ‘l’ and cross-sectional area ‘A’ is suspended from a rigid
support. A force is applied to the free end of the wire to produce an elongation ‘e’ as shown in
figure above. Let ‘Y’ be the Young's modulus of elasticity of the given wire then,

Measuring the values of Force (F), original length (l), elongation (e) and area of cross-section (A), Young’s
modulus of elasticity is determined.

2. Bulk modulus of elasticity (K) or (B):

It is defined as the ratio of normal stress to the volumetric strain i.e.,

Let us consider a spherical object of volume V

is compressed by the forces and its volume is decreased by ΔV.

\
3. Modulus of rigidity ():

Modulus of rigidity is defined as the ratio of tangential stress to shear strain i.e.

Energy stored in a stretched wire:

Let us consider on a uniform wire of length ‘l’ and area of cross section ‘A’ is fixed to a rigid support XY. A
force ‘F’ is applied to the lower end of the wire to produce elongation from x = 0 to x = e as shown in
figure above. Let ‘Y’ be the Young's modulus of the wire then from the definition

2 l
This amount of work done is stored as elastic potential energy in the wire. So the energy stored in stretched wire is

E=1Fe
2

Energy Density:
Energy density is defined as energy stored in a stretched wire per unit volume. We know,

E = 1/2 F.e
VV

E = 1/2 F.e
⸪V=A×l
A×l
E =1 F × e
2 Al
Energy density, E = 1 stress  strain
2

Poisson’s ratio ():

Poisson’s ratio is defined as the ratio of lateral strain to longitudinal strain. It is denoted by () and
Lateral strain
mathematically given by Poisson’s ratio () =
Longitudinal strain
Let us consider a uniform wire of length ‘l’ and diameter ‘D’ is fixed to a rigid support XY. A force is
applied to the lower end of the wire, so that it’s length is increased by ‘e’ and diameter is decreased by
‘ΔD’ as shown in figure above.

–ΔD
From Figure, Lateral strain =
D
e
And, longitudinal strain = l

Now,
Lateral strain Longitudinal strain
Poisson’s ratio ()
-ΔD/D = 
e/l =
-ΔDl
 =
eD =
1 1
The theoretical value of Poisson ratio lies between -1 to
2 but it’s practical values lies between 0 to 2 .
The Poisson’s ratio has maximum value for rubber since there is no change in volume of rubber when it is
elongated or compressed.

Elastic After Effect:

The delaying in the time to regain its original shape and size after the removal of deforming force is known
as elastic after effect. The glass has maximum value of elastic after effect.

Elastic Fatigue:

With the application of alternate cycle of stress and strain, an elastic object losses its elastic property which
is known as elastic fatigue. Due to elastic fatigue bridges are declared unsafe after long use.