Chapter 6: Mechanical Properties of Solids

EXERCISES [PAGE 112]

Exercises | Q 1. (i) | Page 112

Choose the correct answer.
Change in dimensions is known as _________.
1. deformation
2. formation
3. contraction
4. strain

SOLUTION
Change in dimensions is known as deformation.
Exercises | Q 1. (ii) | Page 112
Choose the correct answer.
The point on the stress-strain curve at which strain begins to increase even without
increase in stress is called ________
1. elastic point
2. yield point
3. breaking point
4. neck point

SOLUTION
The point on the stress-strain curve at which strain begins to increase even without
increase in stress is called yield point.
Exercises | Q 1. (iii) | Page 112
Choose the correct answer.
Strain energy of a stretched wire is 18 × 10 -3 J and strain energy per unit volume of the
same wire and same cross-section is 6×10-3 J/m3. Its volume will be _________.
1. 3cm3
2. 3 m3
3. 6 m3
4. 6 cm3

SOLUTION
Strain energy of a stretched wire is 18 × 10 -3 J and strain energy per unit volume of the
same wire and same cross-section is 6×10-3 J/m3. Its volume will be 3 m3
Exercises | Q 1. (iv) | Page 112
Choose the correct answer.
________ is the property of a material which enables it to resist plastic deformation.
 1. elasticity
2. plasticity
3. hardness
4. ductility

SOLUTION
Hardness is the property of a material that enables it to resist plastic deformation.
Exercises | Q 1. (v) | Page 112
Choose the correct answer.
The ability of a material to resist fracturing when force is applied to it, is called ______.
1. toughness
2. hardness
3. elasticity
4. plasticity

SOLUTION
The ability of a material to resist fracturing when force is applied to it, is
called toughness.

Exercises | Q 2. (i) | Page 112

Answer in one sentence.
Define elasticity.

SOLUTION
If a body regains its original shape and size after removal of the deforming force, it is
called an elastic body and the property is called elasticity.
Exercises | Q 2. (ii) | Page 112
Answer in one sentence.
What do you mean by deformation?

SOLUTION
The change in shape or size or both of a body due to an external force is called
deformation.
Exercises | Q 2. (iii) | Page 112
Answer in one sentence.
State the SI unit and dimensions of stress.

SOLUTION

1. SI unit: N m-2 or pascal (Pa)

 2. Dimensions: [L-1M1T –2]

Exercises | Q 2. (iv) | Page 112

Answer in one sentence.
Define strain.

SOLUTION
The strain is defined as the ratio of change in dimensions of the body to its original
dimensions.

Strain =
Exercises | Q 2. (v) | Page 112
Answer in one sentence.
What is Young’s modulus of a rigid body?

SOLUTION
Young’s modulus is the modulus of elasticity related to change in length of an object like
a metal wire, rod, beam, etc., due to the applied deforming force.
Exercises | Q 2. (vi) | Page 112
Answer in one sentence.
Why bridges are unsafe after very long use?

SOLUTION
A bridge during its use undergoes recurring stress depending upon the movement of
vehicles on it. When bridge is used for long time, it loses its elastic strength and
ultimately may collapse. Hence, the bridges are declared unsafe after long use.
Exercises | Q 2. (vii) | Page 112
Answer in one sentence.
How should be a force applied on a body to produce shearing stress?

SOLUTION
A tangential force which is parallel to the top and the bottom surface of the body should
be applied to produce shearing stress.
Exercises | Q 2. (viii) | Page 112
Answer in one sentence.
State the condition under which Hooke’s law holds good.

SOLUTION
Hooke’s law holds good only when a wire/body is loaded within its elastic limit.
Exercises | Q 2. (ix) | Page 112
Answer in one sentence.
Define Poisson’s ratio.

SOLUTION
Within elastic limit, the ratio of lateral strain to the linear strain is called the Poisson’s
ratio.
Exercises | Q 2. (x) | Page 112
Answer in one sentence.
What is an elastomer?

SOLUTION
A material that can be elastically stretched to a larger value of strain is called an
elastomer.
Exercises | Q 2. (xi) | Page 112
Answer in one sentence.
What do you mean by elastic hysteresis?

SOLUTION
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.
Exercises | Q 2. (xii) | Page 112
Answer in one sentence.
State the names of the hardest material and the softest material.

SOLUTION
Hardest material: Diamond
Softest material: Aluminium
Exercises | Q 2. (xiii) | Page 112
Answer in one sentence.
Define friction.

SOLUTION
The property which resists the relative motion between two surfaces in contact is called
friction.
Exercises | Q 2. (xiv) | Page 112
Answer in one sentence.
Why force of static friction is known as ‘self-adjusting force’?
SOLUTION
The force of static friction varies in accordance with applied force. Hence, it is called a
self-adjusting force.
Exercises | Q 2. (xv) | Page 112
Answer in one sentence.
Name two factors on which the coefficient of friction depends.

SOLUTION
The coefficient of friction depends upon:
1. The materials of the surfaces in contact.
2. The nature of the surfaces.

Exercises | Q 3. (i) | Page 112

Answer in short.
Distinguish between elasticity and plasticity.

SOLUTION

No. Elasticity Plasticity

1. Body regains its original shape or size 1. Body does not regain its
after removal of deforming force original shape or size
after removal of
deforming force.

2. Restoring forces are strong enough to 2. Restoring forces are not

bring the displaced molecules to their strong enough to bring
original positions. the molecules back to
their original positions.

3. Examples of elastic materials: metals, 3. Examples of plastic

rubber, quartz, etc materials: clay, putty,
plasticine, thick mud, etc

Exercises | Q 3. (ii) | Page 112

Answer in short.
State any four methods to reduce friction.
SOLUTION
Friction can be reduced by using polished surfaces, using lubricants, using grease and
using ball bearings.
Exercises | Q 3. (iii) | Page 112
Answer in short.
What is rolling friction? How does it arise?

SOLUTION

1. Friction between two bodies in contact when one body is rolling over the other is
called rolling friction.

2. Rolling friction arises as the point of contact of the body with the surface keeps
changing continuously.

Exercises | Q 3. (iv) | Page 112

Answer in short.
Explain how lubricants help in reducing friction.

SOLUTION

1. The friction between lubricant to surface is much less than the friction between
the two same surfaces. Hence using lubricants reduces the friction between the
two surfaces.

2. When the lubricant is applied to machine parts, it fills the depression present on
the surface in contact. Thus, less friction occurs between machine parts.

3. The application of lubricants also reduces wear and tear of machine parts which
in turn reduces friction.

Exercises | Q 3. (v) | Page 112

Answer in short.
State the laws of static friction.

SOLUTION

1. First law: The limiting force of static friction (F L) is directly proportional to the
normal reaction (N) between the two surfaces in contact.
FL ∝ N

∴ FL = μS N
 where, μS = constant called the coefficient of static friction.

2. Second law: The limiting force of friction is independent of the apparent area
between the surfaces in contact, so long as the normal reaction remains the
same.

3. Third law: The limiting force of friction depends upon materials in contact and
the nature of their surfaces.

Exercises | Q 3. (vi) | Page 112

Answer in short.
State the laws of kinetic friction.

SOLUTION

1. First law: The force of kinetic friction (F k ) is directly proportional to the normal
reaction (N) between two surfaces in contact.

Fk ∝ N
∴ Fk = μk N
where, μk = constant called the coefficient of kinetic friction.

2. Second law: Force of kinetic friction is independent of shape and apparent area
of the surfaces in contact.

3. Third law: Force of kinetic friction depends upon the nature and material of the
surfaces in contact.

4. Fourth law: 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.

Exercises | Q 3. (vii) | Page 112

Answer in short.
State advantages of friction.

SOLUTION

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

2. We can hold objects in hand due to static friction.
3. Brakes of vehicles work due to friction; hence we can reduce speed or stop
vehicles.
4. Climbing on a tree is possible due to friction.
Exercises | Q 3. (viii) | Page 112
Answer in short.
State disadvantages of friction.

SOLUTION

1. Friction opposes motion.

2. Friction produces heat in different parts of machines. It also produces noise.
3. Automobile engines consume more fuel due to friction.

Exercises | Q 3. (ix) | Page 112

Answer in short.
What do you mean by brittle substance? Give any two examples.

SOLUTION

1. Substances which breaks within the elastic limit are called brittle substances.
2. Examples: Glass, ceramics.

Exercises | Q 4. (i) | Page 112

Long answer type question.
Distinguish between Young’s modulus, bulk modulus, and modulus of rigidity.

SOLUTION

Exercises | Q 4. (ii) | Page 112

Long answer type question.

Define stress and strain. What are their different types?
SOLUTION

Exercises | Q 4. (iii) | Page 112

Answer the following:

What is Young’s modulus?

SOLUTION
Young’s modulus is the ratio of longitudinal stress to longitudinal strain. It is denoted by
Y.
Unit: N/m2 or Pa in SI system.
Dimensions: [L-1M1T-2]
Exercises | Q 4. (iv) | Page 112

Long answer type question.

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

SOLUTION
The expression for strain energy per unit volume:
1. Consider a wire of original length L and cross-sectional area A stretched by a
force F acting along its length. The wire gets stretched and elongation l is
produced in it.
Exercises | Q 4. (v) | Page 112
Answer in one sentence.
Define friction.

SOLUTION
The property which resists the relative motion between two surfaces in contact is called
friction.
Exercises | Q 4. (vi) | Page 112
Long answer type question.
State Hooke’s law.
SOLUTION
Statement:
Within the elastic limit, stress is directly proportional to strain.
Explanation:

Exercises | Q 5. (i) | Page 113

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

SOLUTION
Exercises | Q 5. (ii) | Page 113
Answer the following.
A block of mass 37 kg rests on a rough horizontal plane having coefficient of static
friction 0.3. Find out the least force required to just move the block horizontally.

SOLUTION
Given: m = 37 kg, S = 0.3, g = 9.8 m/s2
To find: Limiting force (FL)
Formula: FL = μSN = μS mg
Calculation: From formula,
FL = 0.3 × 37 × 9.8 = 108.8 N
Exercises | Q 5. (iii) | Page 113

Answer the following.

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
i. coefficient of static friction? and
ii. coefficient of kinetic friction?

SOLUTION
Exercises | Q 5. (iv) | Page 113
Answer the following.
A wire gets stretched by 4 mm 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?

SOLUTION
Exercises | Q 5. (v) | Page 113
Answer the following.
Calculate the work done in stretching a steel wire of length 2 m and cross-sectional area
0.0225 mm2 when a load of 100 N is slowly applied to its free end. (Young’s modulus of
steel = 2 × 1011 N/m2)

SOLUTION
Given: L = 2 m, F = 100 N, A = 0.0225 mm2 = 2.25 × 10-8 m2, Y = 2 × 1011 N/m2
To find: Work (W)
The work done in stretching the steel wire is 2.222 J.

Exercises | Q 5. (vi) | Page 113

Answer the following.
A solid metal sphere of volume 0.31 m3 is dropped in an ocean where water pressure is
2 × 107 N/m2. Calculate change in volume of the sphere if the bulk modulus of the metal
is 6.1 × 1010 N/m2.

SOLUTION

Exercises | Q 5. (vii) | Page 113

Answer the following.

A wire of mild steel having an initial length 1.5 m and diameter 0.60 mm gets extended
by 6.3 mm when a certain force is applied to it. If Young’s modulus of mild steel is 2.1 ×
1011 N/m2, calculate force applied.
SOLUTION
Exercises | Q 5. (viii) | Page 113

Answer the following.

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 3.25 mm. Calculate the increase in the length of tungsten wire and steel
wire separately.
(YTungsten = 4.1 × 1011 Pa. YSteel = 2 × 1011 Pa)

SOLUTION
Given: lS + lT = 3.25 mm, YT = 4.11 × 1011 Pa, Ys = 2 × 1011 Pa
To find: Extension in tungsten wire (lT)
Extension in steel wire (ls )
Exercises | Q 5. (ix) | Page 113
Answer the following.
A steel wire having a cross-sectional area of 1.2 mm2 is stretched by a force of 120 N. If
a lateral strain of 1.455 × 10-4 is produced in the wire, calculate the Poisson’s ratio.
(Given: YSteel = 2 × 1011 N/m2)

SOLUTION
Given: A = 1.2 mm2 = 1.2 × 10-6 m2, F = 120 N, Ysteel = 2 × 1011 N/m2, Lateral strain =
1.455 × 10-4
To find: Poisson’s ratio (σ)
Formulae:
Exercises | Q 5. (x) | Page 113
Answer the following.
A telephone wire 125 m long and 1 mm in radius is stretched to a length 125.25 m when
a force of 800 N is applied. What is the value of Young’s modulus for the material of
wire?

SOLUTION

Exercises | Q 5. (xi) | Page 113

Answer the following.
A rubber band originally 30 cm long is stretched to a length of 32 cm by a certain load.
What is the strain produced?
SOLUTION

Exercises | Q 5. (xii) | Page 113

Answer the following.

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

SOLUTION

Exercises | Q 5. (xiii) | Page 113

Answer the following.

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