CHAPTER 2

Static Equilibrium and Elasticity

Multiple choice questions
1.Following are the basic types of stress except
A. Tensile stress
B. Compressive stress
C. Shear stress
D. Volumetric stress.
2.When tensile stress is applied axially on a circular rod its
A. diameter decreases
B. length increases
C. volume decreases
D. Which of the above are true?
Only A, Only B, A & B, All of the above

3.Which of the following is not a basic type of strain?

A. Compressive strain
B. Shear strain
C. Area strain
D. Volume strain.
4. Tensile Strain is
A. Increase in length / original length
B. Decrease in length / original length
C. Change in volume / original volume
D. All of the above.
5.Compressive Strain is
A. Increase in length / original length
B. Decrease in length / original length
C. Change in volume / original volume
D. All of the above.
6.Volumetric Strain is
A. Increase in length / original length
B. Decrease in length / original length
C. Change in volume / original volume
D. All of the above.
7.Hooke’s law is applicable within
A. Elastic limit
B. Plastic limit
C. Fracture point
D. Ultimate strength.
8.Young’s Modulus of elasticity is
A. Tensile stress / Tensile strain
B. Shear stress / Shear strain
C. Tensile stress / Shear strain
D. Shear stress / Tensile strain.
9. Modulus of rigidity is
A. Tensile stress / Tensile strain
B. Shear stress / Shear strain
C. Tensile stress / Shear strain
D. Shear stress / Tensile strain.
10. A rod, 120cm long and of diameter 3.0 cm is subjected to an axial pull of
18kN. The stress in N/mm2 is.
A. 22.57 B. 23.47 C. 24.57 D. 25.47
11.The deformation per unit length is called
A. Strain B. Stress C. Elasticity D. None of these
12.Every material obeys the Hooke’s law within
A. Elastic limit B. Plastic limit C. Limit of proportionality
D. None of these
G12 -Chapter 2
Questions and Problems
1. A mass of 125 g is attached to a spring of spring constant k = 58 N m−1 that is hanging
vertically.
(i) Find the extension of the spring.
(ii) If the mass and the spring are placed on the moon, will there be any change in the
extension of the spring?
(i) The forces on the hanging mass are its weight and the tension in the spring.
By Hooke’s law, the tension in the spring is k x, where x is the extension and
k the spring constant. Since we have equilibrium, the two forces are equal in
magnitude. Therefore:
m = 125g = 0.125 kg
k = 58 N
stretching force = F = w = m = (0.125) (10) = 1.25 N ( = 10 m )
By Hook’s law, F = k x

the extension of the spring x = = = 0.022 m

the extension of the spring is 2.2 cm.

(ii) The extension will be less, since the acceleration of gravity is less.
The force of gravity is directly proportional to the mass of an object, so with the
moon's lower gravity, the mass of an object will weigh less and therefore require
less force to stretch or compress a spring compared to on Earth.
( = 1.62 m )

2. Two blocks of mass 4.0 kg and 6.0 kg are joined by a string and rest on a frictionless
horizontal table in figure. A force of 100 N is applied horizontally on one of the blocks.
Find the acceleration of each block and the tension in the string.
Let the acceleration of the system be a. The net horizontal force on the 6.0 kg mass is
100 − T and the net horizontal force on the 4.0 kg mass is just T.
Thus, applying Newton’s second law separately on each mass:
100-T = 6.0 a
T = 4.0 a
Solving for a (by adding the two equations) gives:
100 = 10 a
a = 10 m
The tension in the string is therefore:
T = 4.0 × 10
T = 40 N
Note: The free-body diagram makes it clear that the 100 N force acts only on the body
to the right. It is a common mistake to say that the body to the left is also acted upon by
the 100 N force.

3. Find the magnitude and direction of the net force in the figures.
ΣF = 12 + 18 = 30 N.
This is positive, indicating a direction to the right.

ΣF = 8 + 6 − 8 = 6 N.
This is positive, indicating a direction to the right.

ΣF = -12 + 4 = − 8 N.
The negative sign indicates a direction to the left.

ΣF = 10 + 10 − 5 = 15 N.
This is positive, indicating a direction to the right.

ΣF = − 4 − 6 = −10 N.
The negative sign indicates a direction vertically down.

ΣF = 26 − 6 = 20 N.
The positive sign indicates a direction vertically up.

4. A girl of mass m, 55.0 kg sits on the left end of a seesaw, a plank of length L is 4.00 m,
pivoted in the middle as in figure. (a) First compute the torques on the seesaw about an
axis that passes through the pivot point. Where should a boy of mass M, 75.0 kg sit if
the system (seesaw plus girl and boy) is to be balanced? (b) Find the normal force
exerted by the pivot if the plank has a mass of is 12.0 kg. (c) Repeat part (a), but
this time compute the torques about an axis
through the left end of the plank.
STRATEGY In part (a), apply the second condition of equilibrium, = 0, computing torques around the
pivot point. The mass of the plank forming the seesaw is distributed evenly on either side of the pivot
point, so the torque exerted by gravity on the plank, , can be computed as if all the plank’s mass is
concentrated at the pivot point. Then is zero, as is the torque exerted by the pivot, because their
lever arms are zero. In part (b) the first condition of equilibrium, F = 0, must be applied. Part (c) is a
repeat of part (a) showing that choice of a different axis yields the same answer.

(a) Where should the man sit to balance the seesaw?

Apply the second condition of equilibrium to the plank by setting the sum of the torques
equal to zero.
+ + + =0
The first two torques are zero. Let x represent the man’s distance from the pivot. The
girl is at a distance, L/2 from the pivot.
0 + 0 - Mg x + mg(L/2) = 0

x= = = 1.47m

(b) Find the normal force exerted by the pivot on the seesaw.
Apply for first condition of equilibrium to the plank, solving the resulting equation for
the unknown normal force, n:
-Mg - mg - g+ =0
= (75.0 + 55.0 + 12.0) (9.80)
= 1.39 x N
(c) Repeat part (a), choosing a new axis through the left end of the plank.
Compute the torques using this axis, and set their sum equal to zero. Now the pivot and
gravity forces on the plank result in nonzero torques.

+ + + =0

-Mg ( + x) + mg (0) - g( + ( ) =0

-(75.0) (9.80) (2.00 + x) + 0 - (12.0) (9.80) (2.00) + (2.00) = 0

-(1.47 x ) - (735) x - (235) + (2.00) =0

-(1.47 x ) - (735) x - (235) + (2.00) =0

x = 1.46 m
5. A wire 2 m long and 2 mm in diameter, when stretched by weight of 8 kg has its length
increased by 0.24 mm. Find the stress, strain and Young’s modulus of the material of
the wire. (g = 9.8 m )
Given: Initial length of wire, L = 2 m,
Diameter of wire = 2 mm,
Radius of wire r = = 1 mm = 1 × 10-3 m,
Weight attached = m = 8 kg,
Increase in length, L = 0.24 mm = 0.24 × 10-3 m,
g = 9.8 m .
To Find: Stress =? Strain =? Young’s modulus of material = Y =?

Solution: Stress = =

Stress =

Stress = 2.5× 107 N

( )
Strain = =

Strain = 0.12 × 10-3 =1.2 × 10-4

Young’s modulus of elasticity = Y =

Y=

Y = 2.08 × 1011 N

6. A compressive force of 4 × 104 N is exerted at the end of a bone of length 30cm and 4
cm² square cross-sectional area. What will happen to the bone? Calculate the change in
length of a bone. Compressive strength of bone is 7.7 × 108 N and Young’s
10
modulus of bone is 1.5 × 10 N .
Given: Initial length of wire, L = 30 cm = 0.30 m
Cross-sectional area, A = 4 cm² = 4× 10-4 m²
Load attached, F = 4 × 104 N
Y = 1.5 × 1010 N
Maximum Stress = 7.7 × 108 N .
To Find: Effect of loading =? Change in length = = ?,
Solution:
Applied Stress =

Applied Stress =

Compressive Stress = = 1 × 108 N

This stress is less than the maximum allowable stress (7.7 × 108 N ).
Hence the bone will not break but will get compressed and its length decreases.
Young's modulus (Y) = =
L

Y= L

∴ L=

∴ L = 2 × 10-3 m = 2 mm
Ans.: The length of bone decreases by 2 mm.

7. A mass of 2 kg is hung from a steel wire of radius 0.5 mm and length 3 m. Compute the
extension produced. What should be the minimum radius of wire so that elastic limit is
not exceeded? Elastic limit for steel is 2.4 × 108 N , Young’s modulus, Y = 20
×1010 N .
Given: Radius of wire = 0.5 mm = 0.5 × 10-3 m = 5 × 10-4 m.
Initial length of wire = L = 3 m,
Mass attached = m = 2 kg,
Y for steel = Y = 20 × 1010 N
To Find: Extension; L =? Minimum radius of wire; r = ?
Solution:

Part – I: Young's modulus (Y) = = =

L

Y=
L
L=

L= =
L = 3.743 × 10-4 m = 0.374 mm
Part – II:
Given: Elastic limit for steel = Stress = 2.4 × 108 N ,
Mass attached; m = 2 kg,
To Find: Radius of wire at elastic limit; r =?

Stress = =

r² =

r² =

r² = 2.599× 10-8

r = 1.612× 10-4 m = 0.1612× 10-3 m = 0.1612 mm

8. Young’s modulus of the material of a wire is 9.68 × 1010 N . A wire of this material
of diameter 0.95 mm is stretched by applying a certain force. What should be the limit
of this force if the strain is not to exceed 1 in 1000?

Given: tensile strain = = 10-3

Young’s modulus of elasticity = Y = 9.68 × 1010 N/m²,

Diameter of wire = 0.95 mm,

Radius of wire = = 0.475 mm = 0.475 × 10-3 m

Radius of wire = 4.75 × 10-4 m

To Find: Stretching force = F = tensile stress (σ) =?

Solution:

Young's modulus (Y) = =

Y= ×

F = π r² × Y × tensile strain
F = 3.142 × (4.75 × 10-4)² × 9.68 × 1010 × 10-3
F = 68.62 N
Ans.: Limit of the stretching force required = 68.62N

9. A wire of length 2 m and cross-sectional area 10-4 m² is stretched by a load 102 kg. The
wire is stretched by 0.1 cm. Calculate longitudinal stress, longitudinal strain and
Young’s modulus of the material of wire.
Given: Initial length of wire; L = 2 m,
Cross-sectional area; A = 10-4 m²,
Stretching weight; w= (102 × 9.8) N,
Increase in length = L = 0.1 cm = 0.1 × 10-2 m = 1 × 10-3 m,
To Find: longitudinal stress =? longitudinal strain =?
Young’s modulus of material = Y =?
Solution:

longitudinal stress )= = = = 1x 107 N

longitudinal strain = = = 5 × 10-4

Young’s modulus of elasticity, Y = =

Y = 2 × 1010 N

10. A metal plate has an area of face 1m x 1m and thickness of 1 cm. One face of a larger
area is fixed and a tangential force is applied to the opposite face. The displacement of
the edge produced thereby is 0.005 cm. Find the shearing stress, strain and magnitude of
the tangential force applied. Modulus of rigidity of metal is G = 8.4 × 1010 N .
Given: metal plate area; A = 1 m²
thickness; L = 1 x 10-2 m
displacement of the edge; = 0.005 cm = 5 x 10-5 m
shear modulus, G = 8.4 × 1010 N

To Find: shear stress = = ? shear strain = ?,

tangential applied force = =?

Solution:
shear strain = = = 5 × 10-3

shear stress A
shear modulus, G = = =
shear strain

shear stress = shear modulus, G × shear strain = 8.4 × 1010 × 5 × 10-3 N

shear stress = 4.2 x 108 N

shear stress =
8 8
tangential applied force, = A × shear stress = 1 × 4.2 × 10 = 4.2 x 10 N