(a) The Young modulus is defined as the ratio of tensile stress to tensile strain.

Explain what is
1 meant by each of the terms in italics.

tensile stress ________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

tensile strain ________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________
(3)

(b) A long wire is suspended vertically and a load of 10 N is attached to its lower end. The
extension of the wire is measured accurately. In order to obtain a value for the Young
modulus of the material of the wire, two more quantities must be measured. State what
these are and in each case indicate how an accurate measurement might be made.

quantity 1 __________________________________________________________

method of measurement _______________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

quantity 2 __________________________________________________________

method of measurement _______________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________
(4)

(c) Sketch below a graph showing how stress and strain are related for a ductile substance
and label important features.

(2)
(Total 9 marks)

Page 1 of 22
 As part of a quality check, a manufacturer of fishing line subjects a sample to a tensile test. The
2 sample of line is 2.0 m long and is of constant circular cross-section of diameter 0.50 mm.
Hooke’s law is obeyed up to the point when the line has been extended by 52mm at a tensile
stress of 1.8 × 108 Pa.
The maximum load the line can support before breaking is 45 N at an extension of 88 mm.

(a) Calculate

(i) the value of the Young modulus,

______________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________

(ii) the breaking stress (assuming the cross-sectional area remains constant),

______________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________

(iii) the breaking strain.

______________________________________________________________
(5)

(b) Sketch a graph on the axes below to show how you expect the tensile stress to vary with
strain. Mark the value of stress and corresponding strain at

(i) the limit of Hooke’s law,

(ii) the breaking point.

(4)
(Total 9 marks)

Page 2 of 22
 (a) The graph shows the variation of tensile stress with tensile strain for two wires X and Y,
3 having the same dimensions, but made of different materials. The materials fracture at the
points FX and FY respectively.

You may be awarded marks for the quality of written communication provided in your
answer to the following questions.

State, with a reason for each, which material, X or Y,

(i) obeys Hooke’s law up to the point of fracture,

______________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________

(ii) is the weaker material,

______________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________

(iii) is ductile,

______________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________

(iv) has the greater elastic strain energy for a given tensile stress.

______________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________
(8)

Page 3 of 22
 (b) An elastic cord of unstretched length 160 mm has a cross-sectional area of 0.64 mm2. The
cord is stretched to a length of 190 mm. Assume that Hooke’s law is obeyed for this range
and that the cross-sectional area remains constant.

the Young modulus for the material of the cord = 2.0 × 107 Pa

(i) Calculate the tension in the cord at this extension.

______________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________

(ii) Calculate the energy stored in the cord at this extension.

______________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________
(5)
(Total 13 marks)

The figure below shows a person of weight 800 N, crossing the gap between two buildings on a
4 nylon rope.

Before the crossing commenced the rope was horizontal and just taut. When the person is
halfway across the rope sags by 5.0°.

(a) Explain briefly why, however taut the rope is, the rope must sag when the person is on it.

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________
(1)
Page 4 of 22
 (b) By calculation or scale drawing, determine the tension in the rope when the person is half
way across.
(3)

(c) The nylon rope has an ultimate tensile stress of 7.0 × 107 Pa. Calculate the minimum
diameter of the rope that could be used.
(3)
(Total 7 marks)

(a) State what is meant by the yield stress of a material.

5
___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________
(3)

(b) A steel piano wire has a diameter of 1.8 × 10−3 m and a length of 1.55 m. When tightened
to emit a note of the required frequency it extends by 1.3 × 10−3 m. The Young modulus of
the steel is 2.1 × 1011 Pa.

(i) Calculate the force exerted on the frame of the piano by this wire.
(3)

(ii) Calculate the strain energy stored in this stretched wire.

(2)
(Total 8 marks)

Page 5 of 22
 The diagram below shows a tower crane that has two identical steel cables. The length of each
6 steel cable is 35 m from the jib to the hook.

(a) Each cable has a mass of 4.8 kg per metre. Calculate the weight of a 35 m length of one
cable.

weight = ____________________ N
(2)

(b) The cables would break if the crane attempted to lift a load of 1.5 × 106 N or more.
Calculate the breaking stress of one cable.

cross-sectional area of each cable = 6.2 × 10−4 m2

breaking stress = ____________________ Pa

(2)

Page 6 of 22
(c) When the crane supports a load each cable experiences a stress of 400 MPa. Each cable
obeys Hooke’s law. Ignore the weight of the cables.

Young modulus of steel = 2.1 × 1011 Pa

(i) Calculate the weight of the load.

weight = ____________________ N
(2)

(ii) The unstretched length of each cable is 35 m.

Calculate the extension of each cable when supporting the load.

extension = ____________________ m
(3)

(iii) Calculate the combined stiffness constant, k, for the two cables.

stiffness constant = ____________________ Nm–1

(2)

(iv) Calculate the total energy stored in both stretched cables.

energy stored = ____________________ J

(2)
(Total 13 marks)

Page 7 of 22
 The diagram below shows how the impact force on the heel of a runner’s foot varies with time
7 during an impact when the runner is wearing cushioned sports shoes.

(a) Estimate the maximum stress on the cartilage pad in the knee joint as a result of this force
acting on the cartilage pad over a contact area of 550 mm2.

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________
(4)

(b) On the diagram above, sketch the graph of force against time you would expect to see if a
sports shoe with less cushioning had been used.
(3)
(Total 7 marks)

Page 8 of 22
 The diagram below shows a lorry of mass 1.2 × 103 kg parked on a platform used to weigh
8
vehicles. The lorry compresses the spring that supports the platform by 0.030 m.

Calculate the energy stored in the spring.

gravitational field strength g = 9.8 N kg–1

Energy stored = ____________________

(Total 3 marks)

(a) (i) Define the Young modulus for a material.

9
______________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________

(ii) Explain what is meant by the elastic limit for a wire.

______________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________
(2)

(b) A wire supported at its upper end, hangs vertically. The table shows readings obtained
when stretching the wire by suspending masses from its lower end.

load / N 0 2.0 4.0 6.0 7.0 8.0 9.0 10.0 10.5

extension / mm 0 1.2 2.4 3.6 4.2 4.9 5.7 7.0 8.0

(i) Plot a graph of load against extension.

(One sheet of graph paper should be provided)

(ii) Indicate on your graph the region where Hooke’s law is obeyed.

Page 9 of 22
 (iii) The unstretched length of the wire is 1.6 m and the area of cross-section
8.0 × 10–8 m2. Calculate the value of the Young modulus of the material.

______________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________
(8)

(c) (i) By considering the work done in stretching a wire, show that the energy stored is

given by Fe, where F is the force producing an extension e.

______________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________

(ii) Calculate the energy stored in the wire in part (b) when the extension is 4.0 mm.

______________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________
(4)
(Total 14 marks)

Page 10 of 22
 Two vertical copper wires X and Y of equal length are joined as shown. Y has a greater diameter
10 than X. A weight W is hung from the lower end of Y.

Which of the following is correct?

A The strain in X is the same as that in Y.

B The stress in Y is greater than that in X.

C The tension in Y is the same as that in X.

D The elastic energy stored in X is less than that stored in Y.

(Total 1 mark)

The four bars A, B, C and D have diameters, lengths and loads as shown. They are all made of
11 the same material.

Which bar has the greatest extension?

(Total 1 mark)

Page 11 of 22
 Two masses hang at rest from a spring, as shown in the diagram. The string separating the
12 masses is burned through.

Which of the following gives the accelerations of the two masses as the string breaks?

acceleration of free fall = g

acceleration of acceleration of
1 kg mass upwards in 2 kg mass downwards
m s–2 in
m s–2

A 3g 1g

B 2g 2g

C 2g 1g

D 1g 1g

(Total 1 mark)

Page 12 of 22
 A load of 3.0 N is attached to a spring of negligible mass and spring constant 15 N m–1.
13

What is the energy stored in the spring?

A 0.3 J

B 0.6 J

C 0.9 J

D 1.2 J

(Total 1 mark)

The force on a sample of a material is gradually increased and then decreased. The graph of
14 force against extension is shown in the diagram.

The increase in thermal energy in the sample is represented by area

A R

B P+Q

C P+Q+R

D P+Q−R
(Total 1 mark)

Page 13 of 22
Mark schemes

1
(a) tensile stress = (1)

tensile strain = (1)

mention of tensile and original (1)

(3)

(b) diameter of wire (1)

in several places [or repeated] (1)
using a micrometer (1)
(original) length of wire (1)
using a metre rule (or tape measure) (1)
(max 4)

(c)

(2)
[9]

(a) (i) strain = 0.026 (1)

2
E = 6.92 × 109 Pa (1)

(ii) A = 1.96 × 10–7 (m2) (1)

stress = 230 × 108 Pa (1)

(iii) breaking strain = 0.044 (1)

5

(b)

shape overall (1)

Page 14 of 22
 (i) straight line (1)
0 to (0.026, 1.8) (1)

(ii) curve (1)

to (0.044, 2.3) (1)
max 4
[9]

(a) (i) X (1)

3 stress (force) strain (extension) for the whole length (1)

(ii) Y (1)
has lower breaking stress (or force/unit area is less) (1)

(iii) Y (1)
exhibits plastic behaviour (1)

(iv) Y (1)
for given stress, Y has greater extension
[or greater area under graph] (1)
8
QWC 2

(b) (i) (use of E = gives)

= (1)

(1) for data into correct equation, (1) for correct area

= 2.4 N (1)

(allow C.E. for incorrect area conversion)

(ii) (use of energy stored = ½Fe gives) energy = (1)

= 36 × 10–3 J (1)

(allow C.E. for value of F from (i))

5
[13]

(a) rope has to provide an upward force to balance that of the weight down
4 B1
(1)

Page 15 of 22
 (b) reasonable attempt to resolve vertical forces
T sin 5 or T cos 85 seen in a calculation but not T cos 5
or some progress in use of scale diagram
C1
2 T sin 5 = 800 or well drawn scale diagram with scale indicated
C1
T = 4590 N (4600N)
or 4500 to 4700 by scale drawing
A1
(3)

(c) UTS = maximum force / area

or force / minimum area
C1
area = 6.6 × 10–5 m2
or their (b) / 7 × 107
C1
d = 0.0091 m
{1.35 × 10–40 × √(b)(i)}
A1
(3)
[7]

(a) The force per unit area

5 B1
at which the material extends considerably / a lot / plastically /
or strain increases considerably etc
NOT doesn’t return to its original shape / permanently deformed
B1
for no (or a small) increase in) force / stress
B1
(3)

(b) (i) strain = 8.4 × 10–4 (1.3 × 10–3 / 1.55 seen) (allow if in E = FL / AΔL)
B1
or area of cross section = 2.54 × 10–6
or π (0.9 × 10–3)2
stress = E × strain (explicit or numerically) and
stress = F / A or E = FL / AL
C1
force = 440 – 450 N(cao)
A1
(3)

(ii) Energy = ½ F Δ l or ½ stress × strain × volume

C1
0.29 J ecf for F from (b)(i)
A1
(2)
[8]

Page 16 of 22
 (a) (W = mg)
6 = 4.8 × 35 × 9.81
=1600 (1648 N)
Allow g=10 : 1680 (1700 N)
g = 9.8 1646 N
max 1 for doubling or halving.
Max 1 for use of grammes
2

(b) (stress = tension / area)

For first mark, forgive absence of or incorrect doubling / halving.

= (0.5 ×) 1.5 × 106 / 6.2 × 10−4 OR = 1.5 × 106 / (2 ×) 6.2 × 10−4

= 1.2 × 109 (1.21 GPa)
Forgive incorrect prefix if correct answer seen.
2

(c) (i) (weight = stress × area)

max 1 mark for incorrect power of ten in first marking point

= 400 ×(106 ) × 6.2 × 10−4 (= 248 000 N)

max 1 mark for doubling or halving both stress and area

(×2=) 5.0 × 105 (496 000 N)

Forgive incorrect prefix if correct answer [Link] out for YM ÷
400k Pa which gives correct answer but scores zero.
2

(ii) OR correct substitution into a correct equation (forgive incorrect doubling or

halving for this mark only
OR alternative method:
strain = stress / E
then ΔL = L × strain

If answer to 4ci is used, it must be halved, unless area is doubled,

for this mark

Any incorrect doubling or halving is max 1 mark.

Allow 0.07
3

Page 17 of 22
 (iii)

OR correct substitution into F=kΔL ecf ci and cii (answer 4c(i)

÷ answer 4c(ii) )

Allow halving extension for force on one cable

= 7.4(4)× 106 (Nm−1)

Correct answer gains both marks
2

(iv)
Correct answer gains both marks

= ½ × 496 000 × 6.667 × 10−2 OR ½ × 7.4(4) × 106 × (6.667 × 10−2 )2 ecf ci, cii,
ciii

= 1.6(5) × 104 (J)

Forgive incorrect prefix if correct answer seen.
Doubling the force gets zero.
2
[13]

(a) maximum force (from graph) = 1840 (N) (±100 N) (1)

7

max stress (1)

(for correct denominator) (1)

= 3.3 × 106 N m–2 (1)

4

(b) using shoes without cushioning:

impact time would be less (1)
maximum impact force would be greater (1)
area under the curve the same (1)
3
[7]

use of mg with g = 9.8[ use of g 10 – 1]

8 B1
energy = ½ F l = ½ (1200 × 9.8) × 0.03
M1
= 180 J [176] [omission of g will score only 1]
A1
[3]

Page 18 of 22
 (a) (i) the Young modulus: tensile stress / tensile strain (1)
9
(ii) maximum force or load which can be applied without wire being
permanently deformed
[or point beyond which (when stress removed,) material does not
regain original length] (1)
2

(b) (i) graph: suitable scale (1)

correct points (1) (1)
best straight line followed by curve (1)

(ii) indication of region or range of Hooke’s law (1)

(iii) (use of E = )

values of F and e within range or correct gradient (1)

to give E = (1)

= 3.3(5) × 1010 Pa (1)

8

(c) (i) work done = force × distance (1)

= average force × extension (= ½Fe) (1)
[or use work done = area under graph
area = ½ base × height]

(ii) energy stored = (1)

= 13.(4) × 10-3 J (1)

4
[14]

C
10
[1]

A
11
[1]

C
12
[1]

A
13
[1]

B
14
[1]

Page 19 of 22
Examiner reports
In part (a)(i) there were many good answers with the calculation clearly set out and the answer
2 quoted correctly to 2 significant figures and with the correct unit. Some candidates incorrectly
attempted to calculate the stress for a force of 45N while others had difficulty in converting from
mm to m in determining the strain. In part (a)(ii) about 25% of the candidates could not calculate
correctly the cross-sectional area of the wire since they used the diameter and not the radius, or
they failed to convert the radius from mm to m. Most candidates were able to calculate correctly
the value for the breaking strain.

The sketch graph in part (b) was often carelessly drawn. Sketch graphs gaining full marks
showed a straight line up to the limit of Hooke's law followed by a curved region up until the
breaking point. The nature of the curved region of the graph was treated generously in the
marking. Most candidates marked correctly their values of stress and corresponding strain on the
axes.

Examiners were pleased to find that part (a) was answered satisfactorily and that candidates not
3 only chose the correct wire but were very often able to provide the correct reason for doing so.
Many candidates gained full marks, while a large number only lost one or two marks.
Part (i) was usually correct, although reasons such as ‘the graph is a straight line’ were not
accepted. A ‘constant gradient’ was accepted but few candidates gave this as a reason, most
giving the proportionality of the quantities involved. In part (ii) answers such as ‘Y broke before X’
was not accepted. Examiners were looking for a reason in terms of lower breaking stress.

Answers to part (iii) were not so good and candidates who did not know the correct answer
attempted an answer in terms of the gradients of the curves or the bending of curve Y as the
tensile strain increased. Part (iv) gave the most trouble. Many candidates again tried an
explanation in terms of the gradient, but a significant number followed the correct track and gave
a reason in terms of the area under such a graph. Unfortunately the majority of these candidates
referred to the area under the whole curve, whereas it should have been the area under the
curve at a given tensile stress. Surprisingly, many candidates, even when using a given stress,
gave the area under X as being greater than that under Y.

The final calculation in part (b) did not cause too much difficulty and, provided the initial equation
for the Young modulus was correct, candidates produced a correct answer with correct units.
One common error which again arose from not reading the question thoroughly, was using the
extended length of the elastic cord as the extension. Converting the cross-sectional area of the
cord from mm2 to m2 caused some problems, but this error was carried forward after the initial
penalty had been imposed. The calculation in part (ii) was also done well by those who knew the
expression for the energy stored, or were aware that it was given in the data sheet. Some
answers, resulting from a carry forward of an incorrect force in part (i) gave energies amounting
to several million joules. This attracted no comment.

Page 20 of 22
 (a) It was expected that within the answer candidates would show that they understood the
5 meaning of stress. Only a minority of the candidates did this. The idea that small increases
in stress would produce large increases in strain was not commonly given. Many simply
stated that the material would become plastic.

(b) (i) Most candidates were able to gain 2 or 3 marks for this question. Some made
mistakes in arithmetic following use of the correct formula and substitution. Others
used the wrong formula for area of cross section, 2πr2 or πr2L being seen frequently.

(ii) This was usually well done but a significant proportion of the candidates misread the
question and gave the strain rather than the strain energy as the answer. Some made
the going hard by using ½ stress × strain × volume. Others simply determined ½
stress × strain thinking that this was the strain energy.

(a) Most were successful but a significant number did not multiply by g, perhaps not
6 understanding the difference between weight and mass.

(b) A common error was to not half the force (or double the area). However, a high percentage
did realise that you had to do more than simply substitute the numbers given.

(c) (i) Most correctly calculated the load on one of the cables but many did not realise they
needed to double their result to get the complete load.

(ii) A lot of rounding errors were evident. 0.06 recurring was often rounded to 0.06 rather
than 0.067. Many used their value for weight but did not halve it. Some candidates
therefore lost a mark because even though they got the correct answer, they had not
halved that weight and this was a physics error.

(iii) Many did not understand that they should use the weight and the extension
previously calculated. Many thought that the total load divided by the extension of
one cable would give only half of the total stiffness constant. This is not the case
because the extension of each cable is the same.

In part (a), most candidates read off the maximum force correctly from the graph and also knew
7 how to use this maximum force to calculate the stress. Some candidates were unable to convert
the contact area successfully into m2. Again, in part (b), most candidates correctly sketched the
second curve higher and narrower than the first, although few candidates showed or stated that
the area under the second curve was the same as that under the first curve.

Errors in this question were usually the omission of g (i.e. using mass for weight) or the
8
assumption that the energy lost by the lorry is all transferred to the spring (i.e. using mgΔh).
Again, significant figure mistakes were very common.

Page 21 of 22
 High marks were gained for this question on the Young modulus. The definitions in part (a) were
9 usually correct, although it is worth reminding candidates that when defining the Young modulus
it is essential to use tensile stress and tensile strain and not just stress and strain. The
description of elastic limit was sometimes vague, but the examiners sensed that the candidates
knew what it was, even if their wording was not perfectly clear. It should be emphasised however
that the wire can only regain its original length when the load or force is removed. A large number
of candidates referred to the wire regaining its original shape rather than length; the shape of a
wire does conjure up a different picture to the length of a wire.

The graph in part (b) was usually well drawn, although a significant number of candidates did
omit the zero point, which was an important point to plot. Surprisingly in part (iii), although
candidates had indicated correctly on the graph the extent of Hooke’s law, they used a load of
10N in the calculation. This load extended the wire well beyond the region of Hooke’s law. Many
candidates not only omitted the units in the calculation, but also used incorrect units, N m2 being
a popular alternative.

In part (c), because the expression for the energy stored was given in the question, showing that
the work done in stretching the wire = ½Fe proved to be more difficult than expected. In the
calculation in part (ii) the usual error encountered was not converting the 4 mm to metres.

Page 22 of 22