Section 5 - Materials Flashcards
What is density?
The mass of a material per unit volume.
What is the equation for density?
Density (kg/m³) = Mass (kg) / Volume (m³)
p = m / v
What is the symbol for density?
ρ - rho (looks like a ‘p’)
What are the units for density?
g/cm³ or kg/m³
Convert 1 g/cm³ to kg/m³.
1 g/cm³ = 1000 kg/m³
Is density affected by size or shape?
No, just the material.
What determines whether a material floats?
- The relative average densities.
* If a solid has a lower density than a fluid, it will float in the fluid
What is the density of water?
1 g/cm³ (which is 1000 kg/m³)
What is Hooke’s law?
- The extension of a stretched object (Δl) is proportional to the load (F)
- F = k x Δl
What is the equation for Hooke’s law?
Force (N) = Stiffness constant (N/m) x Extension (m)
F = k x Δl
What are the units for the spring constant, k?
N/m
What is k?
- The stiffness constant for a material being stretched
* With springs, it is usually called the spring constant
Describe the forces acting on a metal wire being stretched by a load.
- Load pulls down on the end of the wire with force F
- Support pulls up on the top of the wire with an equal reaction force R
- F = R
(See diagram pg 66 of revision guide)
Does Hooke’s law only work for tensile forces?
No, it also works for compressive forces.
See diagram pg 66 of revision guide
What things obey Hooke’s law?
• Springs
• Metal wires
• Most other materials
(Up to a point!)
What types of forces does Hooke’s law work for?
- Tensile (stretching)
* Compressive
Does Hooke’s law involve just one force?
- No, there must be two equal and opposite forces at the ends of the object.
- They can be tensile of compressive.
(See diagram pg 66 of revision guide)
Is the value of k the same with tensile and compressive forces?
- In springs - the same.
* In other materials - not always.
A material with only deform (stretch, bend, twist, etc.) if…
…there’s a pair of opposite forces acting on it.
Describe the forces acting on a fixed spring that has a compressive force acting on the base.
- The compressive force, F, pushes up onto the spring
- The support exerts an equal and opposite reaction force, R, down onto the spring
- F = R
How is Hooke’s law illustrated on a graph?
- Graph of force (y) against extension (x)
* Gradient of straight part is the value of k
Does Hooke’s law always work?
No, it stops working when the force is great enough (the limit of proportionality).
Why is a force-extension graph plotted with extension on the x axis?
So that the gradient gives k.
Describe the force-extension graph for a typical metal wire.
- Straight-line from origin up to the limit of proportionality (P)
- Line curves slightly towards x-axis up to elastic limit (E)
- Line curves more towards the x-axis
What is the limit of proportionality on a force-extension graph?
- The point at which the line starts to curve
* Hooke’s law works up to this point
How is Hooke’s law illustrated on a graph?
- Graph of force (y) against extension (x)
* Gradient of straight part is the value of k
Does Hooke’s law always work?
No, it stops working when the force is great enough (the limit of proportionality).
Why is a force-extension graph plotted with extension on the x axis?
So that the gradient gives k.
Describe the force-extension graph for a typical metal wire.
- Straight-line from origin up to the limit of proportionality (P)
- Line curves slightly towards x-axis up to elastic limit (E)
- Line curves more towards the x-axis
What is the limit of proportionality on a force-extension graph?
- The point at which the line starts to curve
* Hooke’s law works up to this point
What is the elastic limit on a force-extension graph?
The force beyond which the material will be permanently stretched and will no longer return to its original shape.
Does rubber obey Hooke’s law?
Yes, but only for really small extensions.
On a force-extension graph for a metal wire, where are P (limit of proportionality) and E (elastic limit)?
- P -> Where the line starts curving
* E -> After P
What are the two types of stretching?
- Elastic
* Plastic
What is elastic deformation?
When a material returns to its original shape and size ice the forces are removed.
What is plastic deformation?
When a material is stretched so that it cannot return to its original shape or size and is permanently deformed.
Describe elastic deformation in terms of atoms.
1) Under tension, the atoms in the material are pulled apart.
2) They move short distances from their equilibrium positions without changing positions in the material.
3) Once load is removed, atoms can return to their equilibrium distances apart.
Describe plastic deformation in terms of atoms.
1) Certain atoms move position relative to one another.
2) When the load is removed, the atoms don’t return to their equilibrium position.
When do elastic and plastic deformation happen?
- Elastic deformation -> Below the elastic limit
* Plastic deformation -> Beyond the elastic limit
Describe the energy transfers when an object is deformed elastically.
- All the work done to stretch is stored as elastic strain energy
- When the force is removed, the stored energy is transferred to other forms (e.g. kinetic energy)
Describe the energy transfers when an object is stretched plastically.
- The work done to separate atoms is not stored
* It is mostly dissipated (e.g. as heat)
What type of deformation occurs in crumple zones in cars and why?
- Plastic
* Energy goes into changing the shape of the vehicle’s body -> Less is transferred to the people inside