Properties of Matter · Interactive

Stress–Strain / Elasticity

Hang a load on a wire and watch its stress–strain curve rise to the elastic limit. In the straight Hookean region stress and strain stay proportional — the slope is Young's modulus Y — until the wire yields, stretches irreversibly, and heads toward fracture.

▬ Stretched wire ━ Elastic (Hookean) ━ Plastic → fracture Wire under load · live σ–ε curve

Setup

Load F 400 N
Wire length L 1.50 m
Wire radius r 1.00 mm
0.00 mm
Extension ΔL · elastic
—
stress σ (MPa)
—
strain ε (×10⁻³)
—
Young's Y (GPa)
—
extension ΔL (mm)
σ = F/A ε = ΔL/L Y = σ/ε ΔL = FL/AY

Playback

Try this: double the radius → the area quadruples → the stress drops to a quarter → the extension drops to a quarter. A longer wire of the same material stretches more for the same load (ΔL ∝ L).