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