BRAINCAKEStress-Strain Graph
Mild low-carbon steel is ductile. This means it can be drawn into wires by plastic deformation. A stress-strain graph for a metal wire or spring is shown in the diagram.
The graph obeys Hooke's law up to the limit of proportionality. Elastic deformation occurs up to the elastic limit. Plastic deformation occurs after this limit.
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Key terms in this lesson
- elastic deformation
- A change of shape from which an object returns to its original shape once the deforming force is removed.
- plastic deformation
- A change of shape from which an object does not return to its original shape once the deforming force is removed.
- elastic limit
- The point beyond which a material no longer returns to its original length or shape once the deforming force is removed.
- Hooke's law
- The extension of a spring or wire is directly proportional to the force applied, provided the limit of proportionality is not exceeded.
More in Materials
- Metal Wire Deformation
- Rubber
- Polythene
- Tensile Stress
- Tensile Strain
- The Young Modulus
- Measuring the Young Modulus
- More Stress-Strain Graphs
All 14 lessons in Materials · All OCR AS-level Physics topics