Tensile stress

Definition

Tensile stress is the internal force per unit area that resists elongation or stretching in a material when an external force is applied. It is calculated as the force divided by the cross-sectional area perpendicular to the force.

5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test

1. Tensile stress is measured in Pascals (Pa) or Newtons per square meter (N/m^2).
2. The formula for tensile stress is $\sigma = \frac{F}{A}$ where $\sigma$ is the tensile stress, $F$ is the applied force, and $A$ is the cross-sectional area.
3. Materials can only withstand a certain amount of tensile stress before they deform permanently or fracture.
4. Tensile strength refers to the maximum amount of tensile stress that a material can handle before breaking.
5. Young's modulus, also known as the elastic modulus, relates tensile stress to tensile strain in a linear elastic material.

Review Questions

• What units are used to measure tensile stress?
• How do you calculate tensile stress given force and cross-sectional area?
• What happens to a material when it exceeds its tensile strength?

Related terms

Strain:

Strain is the deformation or displacement of material measured relative to its original length due to applied forces.

Elastic Modulus:

Elastic Modulus, also known as Young's Modulus, quantifies a material's resistance to elastic deformation under load.

Compressive Stress:

Compressive stress is the internal force per unit area that resists compression in a material when an external compressive force is applied.