What is Young's modulus and how is it measured?

Young's modulus is a measure of a material's stiffness and its ability to resist deformation.

Young's modulus, also known as the modulus of elasticity, is a measure of a material's stiffness and its ability to resist deformation when subjected to an external force. It is defined as the ratio of stress to strain within the elastic limit of a material. The unit of measurement for Young's modulus is pascals (Pa).

To measure Young's modulus, a material sample is subjected to a tensile or compressive force using a machine called a tensile testing machine. The machine applies a force to the sample and measures the resulting deformation or strain. The stress is then calculated by dividing the force by the cross-sectional area of the sample. The resulting stress-strain curve is plotted, and the slope of the linear portion of the curve is the Young's modulus of the material.

Young's modulus is an important property of materials, as it determines their ability to withstand external forces without deforming permanently. It is used in engineering and design to select materials for specific applications, such as building structures or manufacturing components. Materials with high Young's modulus, such as steel and titanium, are used in applications where strength and stiffness are critical, while materials with lower Young's modulus, such as rubber and plastics, are used in applications where flexibility and elasticity are desired.