How is Young's modulus determined experimentally?

Young's modulus is determined experimentally by measuring the stress and strain of a material.

To determine Young's modulus, a sample of the material is subjected to a tensile stress, which causes it to stretch. The amount of stretch is measured and recorded, along with the amount of force applied to the sample. These measurements are used to calculate the strain, which is the amount of deformation per unit length.

Next, the stress is calculated by dividing the force applied by the cross-sectional area of the sample. The stress and strain values are plotted on a graph, with stress on the y-axis and strain on the x-axis. The slope of the resulting straight line is equal to Young's modulus.

It is important to note that the sample must be tested within its elastic limit, which is the point at which the material will not return to its original shape after the stress is removed. If the material is tested beyond its elastic limit, it will undergo plastic deformation and the resulting stress-strain curve will not be linear.

Overall, determining Young's modulus experimentally involves measuring the stress and strain of a material and plotting the resulting data on a graph to calculate the slope of the line, which represents the modulus of elasticity.