Spring Sections
Wooden Dowel
Wooden Dowel and Meter Stick

 

Code Number: 1R20.11

Demo Title: Stress - Elastic Limits

Condition: Good

Principle: Stress & Tension

Area of Study: Mechanics

Equipment: 

Wooden Dowel, Brass Spring Sections, and Plastic Meter Stick.

Procedure:

Exceeding the elastic limit can be done easily with springs and wooden dowels.  Cut several lengths of spring.  Regular spring action is observed until the spring is stretched beyond the elastic limit at which time it will no longer contract to it's original position.

The plastic meter stick may be bent full circle if desired.  The dowel can only be bent a small way before the elastic limit is exceeded and the dowel breaks.

References:

  • Gregory A. DiLisi, Steven J. Eppell, Richard A. Rarick, "The Implosion of the Titan Submersiable: A Stress-Strain Experiment", TPT, Vol. 63, #3, March 2025, p. 156. 
  • Rod Cross, "Measuring Stress Relaxation", TPT, Vol. 63, #1, Jan. 2025, p. 72.
  • Bradley Allen, "From the Simple to the Surprisingly Complex – An Incremental Study of Elasticity", TPT, Vol. 57, #8, Nov. 2019, p. 570.
  • Issac-Cesar Aguilar and David Kagan, "Breaking  Bat", TPT, Vol. 51, #2, Feb. 2013, p. 80.
  • Rod Cross, "Elastic Properties of Plasticine, Silly Putty, and Tennis Strings", TPT, Vol. 50, # 9, Dec. 2012, p. 527.
  • Ligia R. Gomes, Ana Amado, Manuel C. Torres, and Luís M. N. B. F. Santos, "Simple Apparatus for Measurement of a Mechanical Properties of Solids", TPT, Vol. 49, #2, Feb. 2011, p. 117.
  • Bernard J. Feldman, "The Collapse of the I-35W Bridge in Minneapolis", TPT, Vol. 48, #8, Nov. 2010, p. 541.
  • Ivan Culaba and Ed van den Berg, "Tensile Stress and Shear Stress", TPT, Vol. 47, #2, Feb. 2009, p. 121.
  • Paul Hewitt, "Figuring Physics", TPT, Vol. 32, #2, Feb. 1994, p. 121.
  • James Casey, "The Elasticity of Wood", TPT, Vol. 31, #5, May 1993, p. 286.
  • D. L. Mathieson, "The Tensile Strength of Paper", TPT, Vol. 29, #6, Sept. 1991, p. 412.
  • R. D. Edge, "Strength and Shape", TPT, Vol. 25, #1, Jan. 1987, p. 50.
  • H. Richard Crane, "Stretch Orientation: A Process of a Hundred Uses", TPT, Vol. 23, #5, May 1985, p. 304.
  • R. D. Edge, "Elasticity", TPT, Vol. 21, #9, Dec. 1983, p. 608.
  • Jeffrey May, "Physics on a Dinner Plate", TPT, Vol. 18, #9, Dec. 1980, p. 668, also A Potpourri of Physics Teaching Ideas - Sound, p. 251.
  • Joseph Gallant, "The Shape of the Eiffel Tower", AJP, Vol. 70, #2, Feb. 2002, p. 160.
  • Lucas Goehring and Stephen W. Morris, "Cracking Mud, Freezing Dirt, and Breaking Rocks", Physics Today, Vol. 67, #11, Nov. 2014, p. 39.
  • Janice VanCleave, "17, Weakened", Engineering For Every Kid: Easy Activities that Make Learning Science Fun, p. 119.
  • Janice VanCleave, "16, The Limit", Engineering For Every Kid: Easy Activities that Make Learning Science Fun, p. 113.
  • Jearl Walker, "1.142, Stretching of Plastic Shopping Bags", The Flying Circus of Physics Ed. 2, p. 69.
1R20.11 - Stress - Elastic LImits
1R20.11 - Dr. James Wetzel, PHYS 1611 - Elastic Limit