ELASTICITY

Elasticity: The property on account of which a body regains its original size and shape on
removal of external deforming force is called as elasticity.

e.g. steel, copper, rubber.

Plasticity: The property on account of which a body does not regain its original size and
shape on removal of external deforming force is called as plasticity.

e.g. mud, putty.

Rigidity: The property on account of which a body does not change its original size and
shape even a large force is applied on it, is called as rigidity.

No material is perfectly rigid.

Internal restoring force: The force which is responsible to restore original size and shape
of the body is called as internal restoring force.

Stress: The internal restoring force per unit cross-sectional area is called as stress.
Restoring force
i.e. stress =
cross−sectional area

But in equilibrium, Restoring force = Applied force

Applied force F
∴ stress = =
cross−sectional area A

SI unit of stress is N/m2 and CGS unit is dyne/cm2.

Types of stress: There are three types of stress as follows:

1) Tensile stress ( Longitudinal stress ): The stress which is responsible for change in
length is called as tensile stress.
Applied force F Mg
Tensile stress = = =
cross−sectional area A πr2

Where, M = Load attached to wire, r = radius of wire

SI unit of tensile stress is N/m2 and CGS unit is dyne/cm2.

2) Volume stress: The stress which is responsible for change in volume is called as
volume stress.
Applied force
Volume stress = = change in pressure = dp
Area
SI unit of volume stress is N/m2 and CGS unit is dyne/cm2.

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Elasticity
3) Shearing stress: The stress which is responsible for change in shape is called as
shearing stress.
Tangential force F
Shearing stress = =
Surface area A
SI unit of shearing stress is N/m2 and CGS unit is dyne/cm2.
Strain: The change in dimension per unit original dimension is called as strain.
Change in dimension
Strain =
Original dimension

Strain is the ratio of two similar quantities. Hence, strain has no unit.
Types of strain: There are three types of strain as follows:

1) Tensile strain ( Longitudinal strain ): Tensile strain is defined as change in length per
unit original length.
Change in length 𝑙
Tensile strain = =
Original length L

Tensile strain has no unit.

2) Volume strain: Volume strain is defined as change in volume per unit original volume.
Change in volume dV
Volume strain = =
Original volume V

Volume strain has no unit.

3) Shearing strain: Shearing strain is defined as the ratio of lateral displacement of any
layer to its distance from fixed layer.
Lateral displacement of any layer AA`
Shearing strain = = = tanθ
Distance of the layer from fixed layer AD

( If θ is very small then tanθ = θ ; θ is measured in radian ). Shearing strain has no unit.
Elastic limit: The stress corresponding to the limiting value of the load, which when
applied and subsequently released, does not produce permanent deformation is called as
elastic limit.
Hooke’s law: Within elastic limit, stress is directly proportional to the strain.
∴ Stress ∝ Strain
∴ Stress = constant X Strain
Stress
∴ = constant
Strain

The constant of proportionality is called as modulus of elasticity.

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 Stress
∴ Modulus of elasticity =
Strain

Types of modulus of elasticity

1) Young’s Modulus of Elasticity ( Y ):
It is defined as the ratio of tensile stress to tensile strain.
Tensile stress
Young’s modulus of elasticity, Y =
Tensile strain

F/A
∴ Y=
𝑙/L

Mg/πr2
∴ Y=
𝑙/L

𝐌𝐠𝐋
L ∴ Y=
𝛑𝐫 𝟐 𝒍

Where, M = load attached, r = radius of wire,

L = original length of wire, 𝑙 = extension
produced in wire
𝑙
SI unit of Young’s modulus is N/m2 and CGS
unit is dyne/cm2.
M

2) Bulk Modulus of Elasticity ( K ):

It is defined as the ratio of volume stress to volume strain.

Volume stress
Bulk modulus of elasticity, K =
Volume strain

F dV F/A
∴ K=
dV/V

dp
∴ K=
dV/V

V 𝐝𝐩.𝐕
∴ K=
𝐝𝐕

Where, V = original volume, dV = change in volume,

dp = change in pressure, F = Applied force, A = area
of cross-section on which force is applied
SI unit of Bulk modulus is N/m2 & CGS unit is
dyne/cm2.
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3) Modulus of Rigidity ( ):

It is defined as the ratio of shearing stress to shearing strain.

SI unit of modulus of rigidity is N/m2 and CGS unit is dyne/cm2.
Shearing stress
Modulus of rigidity, 𝝶 =
Shearing strain

F/A
∴ 𝝶 = Lateral displacement of a layer
{ Its distance from fixed layer }

F/A
A A` B B` ∴ 𝝶=
AA`/AD

F/A AA`
𝝶= …………. = tanθ
tanθ AD
θ
𝐅
∴ 𝝶=
𝐀 𝐭𝐚𝐧𝛉

Where, F = tangential force

D C A = area on which force is applied

Behaviour of a wire under continuously increasing load OR ( Stress against strain

diagram )

Breaking stress

E = Elastic limit

Y = Yield point

E S = Set point
stress
D = Breaking stress

O
S
set Strain

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A wire is subjected to increasing load step by step. A graph of stress against strain is
drawn as shown. It can be explained as follows.

• OE portion is a straight line which indicates wire obeys Hooke’s law upto point E.
• EE` portion is curved towards strain axis which shows that increase in strain is
more than increase in stress and Hooke’s law is not obeyed from E to E`.
• At any point between E and E` if all the load is removed, then some permanent
elongation occurs in the wire, this is called set.
• When wire is again subjected to a load, a new straight line SE` (shown by dotted
line) is obtained indicating Hooke’s law is obeyed.
• Some portion after point Y is almost parallel to strain axis i.e. strain increases
without increase in stress just like wire flows. This is called plastic flow. The point
at which plastic flow begins is called yield point Y.
• With the plastic flow, wire becomes thin and thin. Some weak points called neck
are formed in the wire. At weakest point wire breaks.

Breaking stress: The maximum stress upto which wire can be loaded or wire can bear is
called as breaking stress.

Factor of safety: It is defined as the ratio of maximum load that the structure can bear to
the actual load on the structure.

Relation between Y, K and 𝝶:

For a given material, there is certain relation between Y, K and 𝝶

9ηK 1 1 1
Y= or = +
3K+ η Y 3η 9K

Steel is more elastic than rubber:

In case of elastic bodies, a restoring force starts building inside body while deforming the
body. If steel and rubber are taken under consideration, steel offers more opposition to
produce change in shape and size. Hence steel is more elastic than rubber.

Applications of elasticity:

1) while constructing the building, elastic properties of material are studied.

2) while designing machine parts, elastic properties of material are studied.

3) In hydraulic machineries, bulk modulus of elasticity is taken into account.

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Exercise theory questions:

1) Define i) Elasticity ii) Plasticity iii) Rigidity. Write two examples of each.
2) Define i) Internal restoring force ii) Stress iii) Strain. Write SI unit of each.
3) Explain three different types of stress.
4) Explain three different types of strain.
5) State Hooke’s law.
6) Explain three different types of modulus of elasticity.
7) Explain behaviour of a wire under continuously increasing load. OR
8) Explain stress versus strain graph.
9) Define i) Elastic limit ii) Breaking stress iii) Factor of safety.
10) Explain why steel is more elastic than rubber.
11) Write applications of elasticity.

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