SOLIDS: Strength

A linear relationship exists between the strain ( ϵ ) imposed upon a material type and the corresponding stress ( σ ) needed to cause such a deformation; well, up to a limit :  The linear portion of the slope corresponds to magnitudes of strain that will cause a material to flex and snap backContinue reading “SOLIDS: Strength”

SOLIDS: Strain

We have seen how the spring constant ( k ) varies in proportion to the magnitude of force ( Fs ) acting within a springy system. Consider the two systems below, where three physically identical spring systems are used to create two systems, one on the left with the other to the right of theContinue reading “SOLIDS: Strain”

SOLIDS: Stress

In a previous question-and-answer sequence, the spring constant ( k ) for a car’s shock absorbers was determined. Interestingly enough, when the net force exerted by all four shock absorbers was determined, an entirely different spring constant of ( k’ ) was derived. Why would the fraction of the system’s net force ( ¼ FsContinue reading “SOLIDS: Stress”