Popular Branches
MBA
B.Tech
BBA
BSc
Home > Articles > Stress in Physics: Definitions, Examples, History, Stress Units, Types, Stress Formula, Hooke’s Law, and Applications
Updated on 25th October, 2023 , 7 min read
Stress is a physical term that describes the amount of force applied to a material per square inch. Stress, which results from externally applied forces, is a physical science and engineering term for force per unit area within the material. The breaking stress, also known as the ultimate tensile stress, is the highest stress a material can withstand before breaking. Tension is what causes a substance to be tensile. The material is attempting to be stretched by the forces at work. There is an internal restoring force produced when the elastic bodies take on their original form. The restoring force is stress if we attempt to calculate how much it exerts per unit area on the deformed body. Compression occurs when a body is being squeezed by external forces.
An item deforms when the deforming force is applied to it. An opposing force will be produced inside the item to return it to its original size and shape. This restoring force will have the same magnitude as the applied deforming force and will be applied in the opposite direction. Stress is a term used to describe how much of this restorative force is produced per unit area of the material. Thus, "The restoring force per unit area of the material" is the definition of stress. It has a tensor value and is represented by the Greek letter sigma (𝝈). measured in N/m² or Pascal. Presented mathematically as -
The restoring force, or F, is expressed in Newtons or N.
A represents the cross-sectional area in m².
The stress is calculated using either N/m² or Pa.
Several examples of how stress is used in our daily lives are as follows-
The following table gives details about the stress in physics-
Since the beginning of time, humans have been aware of internal tension in materials. This understanding was primarily intuitive and empirical up until the 17th century, but this did not stop the creation of highly sophisticated technologies like composite bow and glass making. With clever devices like the capitals, arches, domes, trusses, and flying buttresses of Gothic cathedrals, architects, and builders, in particular, have learned over many millennia how to assemble carefully shaped wood beams and stone blocks to withstand, transmit, and distribute stress in the most effective way.
Given that pressure is a dimension of stress, the coordinates of stress are measured in pascals (Pa, or newtons per square meter) in the international system or pounds per square inch (psi) in the imperial system. The unit of mechanical stress known as MPa, or megapascal, is frequently used because mechanical stresses frequently reach one million Pascals. Multiple units can be used to describe stress. The table below contains the stress units-
Although there are many different kinds of stress in physics, they are primarily divided into two types: Normal Stress and Tangential or Shearing Stress. The following are a few different forms of stress-
The normal force is the stress that results from applying an axial force to a component. To put it another way, when the stress applied to the body is perpendicular. The object's stress level returns to normal when its length and volume are changed. It stands in for the sign. In the SI system, normal stress is measured in millipascals (MPa).
Formula of Normal Stress
Normal stress arises when an item is in tension or compression. Normal stress is further divided into two categories-
Longitudinal Stress is further divided into 2 types-
Shearing stress or tangential stress is defined as a force applied tangentially over the surface area of a plane. The surface is considered to be tangent when the forces acting on it are parallel to it and the stress acting on it follows a tangent. This sort of worry is known as shearing stress.
The formula for calculating the stress applied to a body is as follows-
As a result, we utilize notation to represent stress.
Hooke's law states that when a material is loaded within its elastic limit, the stress created in the body is directly proportionate to the strain produced. Thus, within the elastic limit, the stress-strain ratio is constant. The modulus of elasticity, modulus of rigidity, or elastic moduli is the name given to this constant.
Every day, professions like mechanical engineering and architecture use the idea of stress. Here are a few general instances of how stress is used-
Solution: The deforming force in shearing stress is parallel to the cross-sectional area.
Solution: N/m2 or Pascal is the SI unit of stress.
Solution: Longitudinal stress is the stress that an item experiences throughout its length when equal and opposing deforming forces perpendicular to the area of the cross-section are present.
Solution: Tangential tension causes the form of an item to shift.
Solution: When a coil spring is stretched, neither its length nor volume change; only its shape does. As a result, coil spring stretching is determined by shear modulus.
Pilot Salary in India 2024: Starting Salary, Requirements, Qualifications, Per Month Salary
By - Nikita Parmar 2024-09-06 10:59:22 , 6 min readAns. The deforming force has the power to alter an object's size, shape, or volume.
Ans. The deforming force is perpendicular to the cross-sectional area.
Ans. Longitudinal stress is the tension that an item experiences throughout its length as a result of the existence of equal and opposing deforming pressures perpendicular to the area of the cross-section.
Ans. The deforming force is parallel to the cross-sectional area.
Ans. The amount of restorative force per unit area is measured by stress.
Ans. The Pascal or N/m2 unit of stress.
Ans. The restoring force is equal to the deforming force's size and acts in the opposite direction.
Ans. The volume of the item changes as a result of bulk stress.
Ans. The two main categories of normal stress are longitudinal stress and bulk or volume stress.
Ans. The two forms of longitudinal stress are tensile stress and compressive stress.