What does a stress-strain curve for a metal look like and what does each part mean?

Stress is force divided by area, this is plotted on the y axis. Strain is extension divided by original length, this is plotted on the x axis. In the process of recording data to plot a stress-strain curve, the metal is stretched until it breaks.The first part of the graph is linear, this represents the elastic region. In the elastic region, stress and strain are proportional, Hooke's Law will apply and Young's Modulus of the metal can be calculated. At the end of the linear region, yield stress is reached and the material starts to act plastically. The graph curves because stress and strain are no longer proportional. Ultimate tensile strength is reached at the maximum of the graph and then the graph ends when the material breaks.Extension for students who understood adequately: Explanation of the unloading graph and hysteresis loops.

IH
Answered by Isobel H. Physics tutor

2709 Views

See similar Physics A Level tutors

Related Physics A Level answers

All answers ▸

A sigma0 particle with mass 1193 MeV/c^2 decays into a lambda0 particle with mass 1116 MeV/c^2 a photon. Find the energy and momentum of the photon, assuming that the kinetic energy of the lambda0 particle is negligible.


A stationary unstable neutral particle decays into 2 separate particles with equal mass and velocity, what might the resulting bubble chamber diagram look like?


A 80kg man is hanging from two 1.5m ropes that lie at 60 degrees from the horizontal. What is the tension in each rope required to prevent the man from dropping?


A given star has a peak emission wavelength of 60nm, lies 7.10*10^19m away and the intensity of its electromagnetic radiation reaching the Earth is 3.33*10^-8Wm^-2. Calculate the star's diameter


We're here to help

contact us iconContact ustelephone icon+44 (0) 203 773 6020
Facebook logoInstagram logoLinkedIn logo

MyTutor is part of the IXL family of brands:

© 2026 by IXL Learning