Page 1

22 Which of the following correctly defines the terms stress, strain and Young modulus? 9702/1/M/J/02

stress strain Young modulus

A (force) x (area) (extension) x (original length) (stress) / (strain)

B (force) x (area) (extension) / (original length) (stress) x (strain)
C (force) / (area) (extension) / (original length) (stress) / (strain)
D (force) / (area) (extension) x (original length) (stress) x (strain)

23 A wire is stretched by 8 mm when a load of 60 N is applied. 9702/1/M/J/02

What will be the extension of a wire of the same material having four times the cross-sectional
area and twice the original length, when the same load is applied?

A 2 mm B 4 mm C 8 mm D 16 mm

24 The tension in a spring of natural length l0 is first increased from zero to T1, causing the length to
increase to l1. The tension is then reduced to T2, causing the length to decrease to l2 (as shown).
9702/1/M/J/02

tension
R U M
T1

S V N
T2

L Q P
0
0 l0 l2 l1 length

Which area of the graph represents the work done by the spring during this reduction in length?
9702/1/M/J/02

A MLP B MNQP C MNSR D MPLU

24 Two springs P and Q both obey Hooke’s law. They have spring constants 2k and k respectively.

The springs are stretched, separately, by a force that is gradually increased from zero up to a
certain maximum value, the same for each spring. The work done in stretching spring P is WP,
and the work done in stretching spring Q is WQ. 9702/1/O/N/02

How is WP related to WQ?

A WP =  WQ B WP =  WQ C WP = 2WQ D WP = 4WQ
 Page 2
2

23 The variation of the extension x of a spring with applied force F is shown. 9702/1/O/N/02

0
0 x

Which shaded area represents the work done when the extension is increased from x1 to x2?

A B C D
F F F F

0 0 0 0
0 x1 x2 x 0 x1 x2 x 0 x1 x2 x 0 x1 x2 x

19 A suspended copper wire is gradually loaded until it is stretched just beyond the elastic limit, and it
is then gradually unloaded. 9702/01/M/J/03

Which graph (with arrows indicating the sequence) best illustrates the variation of the tensile
stress with longitudinal strain?

A B C D

stress stress stress stress

0 0 0 0
0 strain 0 strain 0 strain 0 strain

21 What is the ultimate tensile stress of a material? 9702/01/M/J/03

A the stress at which the material becomes ductile

B the stress at which the material breaks
C the stress at which the material deforms plastically
D the stress at which the material reaches its elastic limit
 Page 3
3

22 A beam, the weight of which may be neglected, is supported by three identical springs. When a
weight W is hung from the middle of the beam, the extension of each spring is x. 9702/01/M/J/03

original position
of the beam
x

The middle spring and the weight are removed.

What is the extension when a weight of 2W is hung from the middle of the beam?
3x 4x
A 2 B 3 C 2x D 3x

21 What is the Young modulus of a metal? 9702/01/O/N/03

A extension / force
B force / extension
C strain / stress
D stress / strain

22 The graph shows how the extension of a spring varies with the force used to stretch it. 9702/01/O/N/03

extension/cm 4.0

2.0

0
0 10 20 30
force/kN

What is the strain energy stored in the spring when the extension is 4.0 cm?

A 60 J B 120 J C 600 J D 1200 J

 Page 4
4

22 The graph shown was plotted in an experiment on a metal wire. 9702/01/M/J/04

0
0 X

The shaded area represents the total strain energy stored in stretching the wire.

How should the axes be labelled?

Y X

A force extension
B mass extension
C strain energy
D stress strain

23 Nylon breaks when the stress within it reaches 1 x 10 9 Pa. 9702/01/M/J/04

Which range includes the heaviest load that could be lifted by a nylon thread of diameter 1 mm?

A 2 N to 20 N
B 20 N to 200 N
C 200 N to 2000 N
D 2000 N to 20 000 N

22 The table shows a load applied to four wires and the cross-sectional area of each. 9702/01/O/N/04

Which of the wires is subjected to the greatest stress?

cross-sectional
load / N
area / mm2

A 1500 0.25
B 2000 1.0
C 3000 0.56
D 5000 2.3
 Page 5
5

23 The force F required to extend a sample of rubber by a distance x is found to vary as shown.
9702/01/O/N/04
F/N

40
30
20
10
0
0 1 2 3 4 5 x/m

The energy stored in the rubber for an extension of 5 m is

A less than 100 J.

B 100 J.
C between 100 J and 200 J.
D more than 200 J.

20 A number of similar springs, each having the same spring constant, are joined in three
arrangements X, Y and Z. The same load is applied to each. 9702/01/M/J/05

X Y Z

load

load
load

What is the order of increasing extension for these arrangements?

smallest largest

A X Y Z
B Z X Y
C Z Y X
D Y X Z
 Page 6
9

19 A spring of unextended length 0.50 m is stretched by a force of 2.0 N to a new length of 0.90 m.
The variation of its length with tension is as shown. 9702/01/M/J/07

2.0
tension / N

0
0 0.50 0.90
length / m

How much strain energy is stored in the spring?

A 0.40 J B 0.80 J C 0.90 J D 1.8 J

20 A simple crane consists of a rigid vertical pillar supporting a horizontal beam. 9702/01/M/J/07

W
X

A weight W is lifted by a rope at the end of the beam.

What are the forces at points X, Y and Z due to the weight W?

force at X force at Y force at Z

A tension compression tension

B tension tension compression
C compression tension compression
D compression compression compression
 Page 7
7

21 A wire stretches 8 mm under a load of 60 N. 9702/01/O/N/05

A second wire of the same material, with half the diameter and a quarter of the original length of
the first wire, is stretched by the same load.

Assuming that Hooke’s law is obeyed, what is the extension of this wire?

A 1 mm B 4 mm C 8 mm D 16 mm

20 A ductile material is stretched by a tensile force to a point beyond its elastic limit. The tensile
force is then reduced to zero. The graph of force against extension is shown below. 9702/01/O/N/05

force

X Z
0
0 extension
Which area represents the net work done on the sample?

A X B X+Y C Y+Z D Z

22 The graph shows the behaviour of a sample of a metal when it is stretched until it starts to
undergo plastic deformation. 9702/01/M/J/06

force / N
550 Y
500 X

0
0 10.0 12.0
extension / mm
What is the total work done in stretching the sample from zero extension to 12.0 mm?
Simplify the calculation by treating the region XY as a straight line.

A 3.30 J B 3.55 J C 3.60 J D 6.60 J

 Page 8
10

19 What is plastic deformation? 9702/01/O/N/07

A Plastic deformation occurs when strain is not proportional to stress but when the load is
removed the material returns to its original length.
B Plastic deformation occurs if, when the load is removed, the material contracts but a
permanent stretching has occurred.
C Plastic deformation occurs until the extension is no longer proportional to the load.
D Plastic deformation occurs when the material extends so that strain is directly proportional to
stress.

20 The graph shows how the length of a particular rubber cord varies as force is applied. 9702/01/O/N/07

0.40
length / m

0.20

0
0 force / N 25

What is the maximum strain energy in this deformed rubber cord?

A 2.5 J B 5.0 J C 7.5 J D 10 J

24 The Young modulus of steel is determined using a length of steel wire and is found to have the
value E.

Another experiment is carried out using a wire of the same steel, but of twice the length and half
the diameter.

What value is obtained for the Young modulus in the second experiment? 9702/01/M/J/08

1 1
A 4 E B 2 E C E D 2E

19 Which properties best describe modelling clay? 9702/01/O/N/08

A brittle and ductile

B ductile and elastic
C elastic and plastic
D plastic and ductile
 Page 9
37

21 A spring is stretched over a range within which elastic deformation occurs. Its spring constant is
3.0 N cm–1. 9702/13/M/J/13

Which row, for the stated applied force, gives the correct extension and strain energy?

force extension strain energy

/N / cm / mJ

A 3.0 1.0 1.5

B 6.0 2.0 120
C 12.0 3.0 180
D 24.0 8.0 960

15 A spring of unextended length 40 mm is suspended from a fixed point. A load of 16 N is applied to

the free end of the spring. This causes the spring to extend so that its final length is five times its
original length. The spring obeys Hooke’s Law. 9702/13/M/J/13

What is the energy stored in the spring due to this extension?

A 1.3 J B 1.6 J C 2.6 J D 3.2 J

23 Which properties best describe modelling clay? 9702/11/O/N/13

A brittle and ductile

B ductile and elastic
C elastic and plastic
D plastic and ductile

24 A steel spring has a spring constant of 150 N m–1. When a 25 N weight is hung from the spring, it
has a stretched length of 55 cm. 9702/11/O/N/13

What was the original length of the spring?

A 0.38 m B 0.49 m C 0.61 m D 0.72 m

22 A lift is supported by two steel cables each of length 20 m. 9702/13/O/N/13

Each of the cables consists of 100 parallel steel wires, each wire of cross-sectional area
3.2 × 10–6 m2. The Young modulus of steel is 2.1 × 1011 N m–2.

Which distance does the lift move downward when a man of mass 70 kg steps into it?

A 0.010 mm B 0.020 mm C 0.10 mm D 0.20 mm

 Page 10
38

20 The stress-strain graphs for three different materials are shown, not drawn to the same scales.
9702/11/M/J/14
1 2 3

stress stress stress

0 0 0
0 strain 0 strain 0 strain

The three materials are copper, rubber and glass.

Which materials are represented by the graphs?

1 2 3

A copper glass rubber

B copper rubber glass
C glass copper rubber
D glass rubber copper

21 The graph is a load-extension graph for a wire undergoing elastic deformation. 9702/11/M/J/14

load / kg

0
0 5 10 15 20 25
extension / mm

How much work is done on the wire to increase the extension from 10 mm to 20 mm?

A 0.028 J B 0.184 J C 0.28 J D 0.37 J

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39

23 What is equal to the Young modulus of a material that is extended elastically within the limit of
proportionality? 9702/13/O/N/13

A area under the force-extension graph

B area under the stress-strain graph
C gradient of the force-extension graph
D gradient of the stress-strain graph

19 A sample of metal is subjected to a force which increases to a maximum value and then
decreases back to zero. A force-extension graph for the sample is shown. 9702/12/M/J/14

force
Y

0
0
extension

When the sample contracts it follows the same force-extension curve as when it was being
stretched.

What is the behaviour of the metal between X and Y?

A both elastic and plastic

B not elastic and not plastic
C plastic but not elastic
D elastic but not plastic

23 An elastic material with a Young modulus E is subjected to a tensile stress S. Hooke’s Law is
obeyed. 9702/13/M/J/14

What is the expression for the elastic energy stored per unit volume of the material?
S S2 E 2E
A B C D
2E E 2S  S2
 Page 12
40

20 The graph shows the length of a spring as it is stretched by an increasing load. 9702/12/M/J/14

15
length / cm

10

0
0 0.1 0.2 0.3 0.4 0.5
load / N
What is the spring constant?

A 8.0 N m–1 B 2.7 N m–1 C 0.13 N m–1 D 0.080 N m–1

21 A composite rod is made by attaching a glass-reinforced plastic rod and a nylon rod end to end,
as shown. 9702/12/M/J/14
1.00 m 1.00 m

glass-reinforced plastic nylon

Ep = 40 GPa En = 2.0 GPa

The rods have the same cross-sectional area and each rod is 1.00 m in length. The Young
modulus Ep of the plastic is 40 GPa and the Young modulus En of the nylon is 2.0 GPa.

The composite rod will break when its total extension reaches 3.0 mm.

What is the greatest tensile stress that can be applied to the composite rod before it breaks?

A 7.1 × 10–14 Pa

B 7.1 × 10–2 Pa

C 5.7 × 106 Pa

D 5.7 × 109 Pa

22 The Mariana Trench in the Pacific Ocean has a depth of about 10 km. 9702/13/M/J/14

Assuming that sea water is incompressible and has a density of about 1020 kg m–3, what would
be the approximate pressure at that depth?

A 105 Pa B 106 Pa C 107 Pa D 108 Pa

 Page 13
41

24 Cylindrical samples of steel, glass and rubber are each subjected to a gradually increasing tensile
force F. The extensions e are measured and graphs are plotted as shown below. 9702/13/M/J/14

F F F

0 0 0
0 e 0 e 0 e
graph X graph Y graph Z

Which row correctly relates the graphs to the materials?

steel glass rubber

A X Y Z
B X Z Y
C Y X Z
D Y Z X

24 The graph shows the behaviour of a sample of a metal when it is stretched until it starts to
undergo plastic deformation. 9702/13/O/N/14

force / N
550 Y
500 X

0
0 10.0 12.0
extension / mm

What is the total work done in stretching the sample from zero to 12.0 mm extension?
Simplify the calculation by treating the curve XY as a straight line.

A 3.30 J B 3.55 J C 3.60 J D 6.60 J

 Page 14
42

23 What is meant by the ultimate tensile stress of a material? 9702/13/O/N/14

A the maximum force that can be applied to a bar of the material before it bends
B the maximum inter-atomic force before the atomic bonds of the material break
C the maximum stretching force per unit cross-sectional area before the material breaks
D the maximum tensile force in a wire of the material before it breaks

25 Two springs, one with spring constant k1 = 4 kN m–1 and the other with spring constant
k2 = 2 kN m–1, are connected as shown. 9702/13/O/N/14

k1

k2

load
80 N

What is the total extension of the springs when supporting a load of 80 N?

A 1.3 cm B 4 cm C 6 cm D 60 cm

20 The stress-strain graph for a glass rod, up to the point at which it breaks, is shown below.
9702/11/O/N/14

stress

0
0 strain

Which statement about the glass rod is correct?

A Hooke’s law is obeyed for all values of stress up to the breaking point.
B The glass is ductile.
C The glass shows plastic deformation.
D When the cross-sectional area of the rod is doubled, the ultimate tensile stress of the rod is
halved.
 Page 15
43

22 A steel bar of circular cross-section is under tension T, as shown. 9702/13/M/J/15

The diameter of the wide portion is double the diameter of the narrow portion.

T T

What is the value of stress in the wide portion ?

stress in the narrow portion
A 0.25 B 0.50 C 2.0 D 4.0

21 A rubber band is stretched by hanging weights on it and the force-extension graph is plotted from
the results. 9702/11/O/N/14

20
force / N
15

10

0
0 10 20 30
extension / cm

What is the best estimate of the strain energy stored in the rubber band when it is extended
30 cm?

A 1.8 J B 2.6 J C 5.1 J D 200 J

21 To determine the Young modulus of a wire, several measurements are taken. 9702/12/M/J/15

In which row can the measurement not be taken directly with the stated apparatus?

measurement apparatus

A area of cross-section of wire micrometer screw gauge

B extension of wire vernier scale
C mass of load applied to wire electronic balance
D original length of wire metre rule
 Page 16
44

23 The graph shows the non-linear force-extension curve for a wire made from a new composite
material. 9702/13/M/J/15

F/N
100 P

0
0 1.0 2.0
x / mm

What could be the value of the strain energy stored in the wire when it is stretched elastically to
point P?

A 0.09 J B 0.10 J C 0.11 J D 0.20 J

24 The diagram shows the stress-strain graph for bone. 9702/13/M/J/15

stress 2
/ 106 N m–2

0
0 0.5 1.0 1.5
strain / %

What is the Young modulus of bone?

A 1 × 106 N m–2

B 2 × 106 N m–2

C 1 × 108 N m–2

D 2 × 108 N m–2
 Page 17
45

22 A long, thin metal wire is suspended from a fixed support and hangs vertically. Masses are
suspended from its lower end. 9702/12/M/J/15

The load on the lower end is increased from zero and then decreased again back to zero.

The diagram shows the force-extension graph produced.

force T
S

0
0 extension

Where on the graph would the elastic limit be found?

A anywhere between point R and point S

B just beyond point S
C exactly at point S
D exactly at point T

22 The graph shown was plotted in an experiment on a metal wire. 9702/11/M/J/15

0
0 X

The shaded area represents the total strain energy stored in stretching the wire.

How should the axes be labelled?

Y X

A force extension
B mass extension
C strain energy
D stress strain
 Page 18
46

23 The diagram represents a steel tube with wall thickness w which is small in comparison with the
diameter of the tube. 9702/12/M/J/15
T

The tube is under tension, caused by a force T, parallel to the axis of the tube. To reduce the
stress in the material of the tube, it is proposed to thicken the wall.

The tube diameter and the tension being constant, which wall thickness gives half the stress?
w
A B 2w C 2w D 4w
2

23 The variation with applied force of the extension of a spring is shown in the graph. 9702/11/M/J/15

8.0
force / N
6.0

4.0

2.0

0
0 1.0 2.0 3.0 4.0
extension / cm

When there is no force applied to the spring, it has a length of 1.0 cm.

What is the increase in the strain energy stored in the spring when its length is increased from
2.0 cm to 3.0 cm?

A 0.020 J B 0.030 J C 0.040 J D 0.050 J

21 A force acts on a wire to produce extension e. The same force then acts on a second wire of the
same material, but of half the diameter and three times the length of the first wire. Both wires
obey Hooke’s law.
9702/12/O/N/15

What is the extension of the second wire?

A 3e B 4e C 6e D 12e
 Page 19
47

22 The graph shows the variation with stress of the strain of a material as it is extended elastically.
9702/11/O/N/15

strain

0
0 stress

Why is the strain energy per unit volume of the material not the area under the graph?

A The axes are the wrong way round.

B The graph is not a straight line.
C The graph is strain-stress instead of extension-force.
D The material is polymeric.

23 A wire has a final length of 6.0 m after undergoing a strain of 200%. 9702/11/O/N/15

What is the original length of the wire?

A 1.5 m B 2.0 m C 3.0 m D 4.0 m

20 A known tensile force acts on a wire. The wire does not exceed its elastic limit. 9702/11/O/N/15

Which two measurements enable the strain of the wire to be calculated?

A the unstretched length of the wire and the cross-sectional area of the wire
B the unstretched length of the wire and the extension of the wire
C the Young modulus of the wire’s material and the extension of the wire
D the Young modulus of the wire’s material and the unstretched length of the wire

21 The Young modulus of steel is determined using a length of steel wire and is found to have the
value E. 9702/11/O/N/15

Another experiment is carried out using a wire of the same steel, but of half the length and half
the diameter.

Which value is obtained for the Young modulus in the second experiment?
1
A 2 E B E C 2E D 4E
 Page 20
48

22 The graph shows the variation with stress of the strain of a material as it is extended elastically.
9702/11/O/N/15

strain

0
0 stress

Why is the strain energy per unit volume of the material not the area under the graph?

A The axes are the wrong way round.

B The graph is not a straight line.
C The graph is strain-stress instead of extension-force.
D The material is polymeric.

23 A wire has a final length of 6.0 m after undergoing a strain of 200%. 9702/11/O/N/15

What is the original length of the wire?

A 1.5 m B 2.0 m C 3.0 m D 4.0 m

stress
20 The Young modulus of a metal may be determined from the ratio when the metal is
strain
stretched elastically. This can be done by making measurements when loads are added to a wire.

Which measurements are needed to calculate the stress and strain of the wire in such an
experiment? 9702/13/O/N/15

stress strain
A wire diameter initial and final wire’s original mass added
positions of load length
B wire diameter mass added wire’s original initial and final
length positions of load
C wire’s original initial and final wire diameter mass added
length positions of load
D wire’s original mass added wire diameter initial and final
length positions of load
 Page 21
49

22 Which statement about elastic and plastic deformation is correct? 9702/12/O/N/15

A Elastic deformation and plastic deformation are proportional to the applied force.
B Elastic deformation and plastic deformation cause no change in volume.
C Elastic deformation causes heating of the material but plastic deformation does not.
D Elastic deformation is reversible but plastic deformation is not.

23 What is meant by the ultimate tensile stress of a ductile metal? 9702/12/O/N/15

A It is the maximum stress at which the material deforms elastically.

B It is the maximum stress at which the material obeys Hooke’s law.
C It is the maximum stress that the material can support without breaking.
D It is the Young modulus multiplied by the maximum possible strain of a material.

24 A 0.80 m length of steel wire and a 1.4 m length of brass wire are joined together. The combined
wires are suspended from a fixed support and a force of 40 N is applied, as shown. 9702/12/O/N/15

steel

brass

40 N
The Young modulus of steel is 2.0 × 1011 Pa.

The Young modulus of brass is 1.0 × 1011 Pa.

Each wire has a cross-sectional area of 2.4 × 10–6 m2.

The wires extend without reaching their elastic limits.

What is the total extension? Ignore the weights of the wires.

A 1.7 × 10–4 m B 3.0 × 10–4 m C 3.9 × 10–4 m D 9.0 × 10–4 m

21 A copper wire of length 3.6 m and diameter 1.22 mm is stretched elastically by a force of 37 N.
The Young modulus of copper is 1.17 × 1011 Pa. 9702/13/O/N/15

Which extension is caused by this force?

A 0.24 mm B 0.76 mm C 0.97 mm D 3.1 mm

 Page 22
50

18 A metal wire is stretched by a load. The force-extension graph is shown. 9702/12/F/M/16

force

0
0 extension
What is represented by the area under the whole graph?

A the change in gravitational potential energy of the wire

B the energy that would be released from the wire if the final load was removed
C the energy transferred into heat energy in the wire
D the work done in stretching the wire

19 The Young modulus of steel is twice that of copper. 9702/12/F/M/16

A 50 cm length of copper wire of diameter 2.0 mm is joined to a 50 cm length of steel wire of

diameter 1.0 mm, making a combination wire of length 1.0 m, as shown.
fixed support

copper wire

steel wire

weight

The combination wire is stretched by a weight added to its end. Both the copper and the steel
wires obey Hooke’s law.
extension of steel wire
What is the ratio ?
extension of copper wire
A 4 B 2 C 1 D 0.5

20 A spring balance consists of a spring of length 20.0 cm with a hook attached. 9702/12/M/J/16

When a fish of mass 3.0 kg is suspended from the hook, the new length of the spring is 27.0 cm.

What is the spring constant of the spring?

A 4.2 N m–1 B 43 N m–1 C 110 N m–1 D 420 N m–1

 Page 23
51

20 A number of identical springs are joined in four arrangements. 9702/11/M/J/16

Which arrangement has the same spring constant as a single spring?

A B C D

load

load load load

21 A sample of material is stretched by a tensile force to a point beyond its elastic limit. The tensile
force is then reduced to zero. The graph of force against extension is shown below.
9702/11/M/J/16

force

X Z
0
0 extension

Which area represents the net work done on the sample?

A X B X+Y C Y+Z D Z

22 The diagram shows a beam supported on two pivots. 9702/13/M/J/16

X
Y

Which statement describes the state of the top surface X and of the bottom surface Y?

A Both X and Y are in compression.

B Both X and Y are in tension.
C X is in compression and Y is in tension.
D X is in tension and Y is in compression.
 Page 24
52

21 A metal wire is attached at one end to a fixed point and a load is hung from the other end so that
the wire hangs vertically. The load is increased from zero to 20 N. This causes the wire to extend
elastically by 5.0 mm. The load is then reduced to 12 N and the extension decreases to 3.0 mm.
9702/12/M/J/16

load / N

20

12

0
0 3.0 5.0
extension / mm
How much strain energy is released during the unloading process?
A 0.8 × 10–2 J B 1.8 × 10–2 J C 2.4 × 10–2 J D 3.2 × 10–2 J

20 The diagram shows the force-extension graph for a sample of material. The sample is stretched
and then returns to its original length. 9702/13/M/J/16

force

area P

area Q

area R

0
0
extension
Which area represents the work done to stretch the sample?
A P+Q B P only C Q+R D R only

21 A metal wire of cross-sectional area 0.20 mm2 hangs vertically from a fixed point. A load of 84 N is
then attached to the lower end of the wire. The wire obeys Hooke’s law and increases in length
by 0.30%. 9702/13/M/J/16

What is the Young modulus of the metal of the wire?

A 1.4 × 105 Pa

B 1.4 × 108 Pa

C 1.4 × 109 Pa

D 1.4 × 1011 Pa