9.19 A mild steel wire of length 1.0 m and cross-sectional area of 0.50 × 10-2 cm2 is stretched, well within its elastic limits, horizontally between two pillars. A mass of 100 g is suspended from the midpoint of the wire. Calculate the depression at the mid-point.

                                         


Given that:

Length of the steel wire  = 1.0 m

Area of cross-section, A = 0.50×10-2 cm2=0.50×10-6 m2

A mass 100g is suspended from its midpoint.

The wire dips at the centre as shown in the given figure. 

 

The length after mass m is attached to the wire = XO + OZ

Where,

XO=OZ=0.52+l212
Increase in the length of the wire: 
Δl = (XO+OZ)XZ = (XO+OZ)-1.0
l=20.52+(l)212-1.0

Expanding and neglecting higher terms,


l=l20.5
Strain=lncrease in lengthOrignal length

If T is the tension in the wire,

mg = 2Tcosθ

From the figure,

cosθ=l(0.5)1+l0.5212

Expanding the expression and eliminating the higher terms:

cosθ=l(0.5)1+l22(0.5)2
1+l20.51 for small l
cosθ=l0.5
T=mg2l0.5=mg×0.52l=mg4l
Young's modulus=StressStrain
Y=mg×0.54l×A×l2
l=mg×0.54YA3

Young’s modulus of steel, Y = 2×1011 Pa

l=0.1×9.8×0.54×2×1011×0.50×10-6
=0.0106 m

Hence, the depression at the midpoint is 0.0106 m.