When a wire is stretched to four times its original length, several physical properties of the wire are affected, particularly its cross-sectional area, volume, and stress-strain characteristics. Here’s a detailed explanation:
### 1. **Change in Cross-Sectional Area**
Assuming the wire is stretched uniformly and is made of a material that remains homogeneous, the volume of the wire must remain constant. Let's denote:
- The original length of the wire as \( L_0 \).
- The original cross-sectional area of the wire as \( A_0 \).
- The original volume of the wire as \( V_0 = A_0 \times L_0 \).
When the wire is stretched to four times its original length, the new length \( L \) is \( 4L_0 \). To maintain the same volume, the cross-sectional area must change accordingly. The new volume \( V \) must be equal to the original volume:
\[ V = A \times L = A_0 \times L_0 \]
Substitute \( L = 4L_0 \):
\[ A \times 4L_0 = A_0 \times L_0 \]
Solving for the new cross-sectional area \( A \):
\[ A = \frac{A_0}{4} \]
Thus, the cross-sectional area of the wire after stretching is one-fourth of the original cross-sectional area.
### 2. **Stress and Strain**
- **Strain** is defined as the change in length divided by the original length. For the wire stretched to four times its length:
\[
\text{Strain} = \frac{\text{Change in Length}}{\text{Original Length}} = \frac{4L_0 - L_0}{L_0} = \frac{3L_0}{L_0} = 3
\]
So, the strain is 3, meaning the wire is under a strain of 300%.
- **Stress** is the force applied per unit area. The relationship between stress (\( \sigma \)) and strain (\( \epsilon \)) in a material is given by Hooke's Law for elastic deformation:
\[
\sigma = E \cdot \epsilon
\]
where \( E \) is the Young's Modulus of the material.
Because the cross-sectional area has decreased, the stress in the wire will be affected. If the original force applied was \( F_0 \), the new stress \( \sigma \) after stretching can be calculated using:
\[
\sigma = \frac{F}{A} = \frac{F_0}{\frac{A_0}{4}} = 4 \cdot \frac{F_0}{A_0}
\]
So, the stress will increase by a factor of 4.
### 3. **Mechanical Properties**
- **Young’s Modulus** (\( E \)) is a measure of the stiffness of the material and remains constant for a given material regardless of the wire's dimensions. It relates stress and strain.
- **Elastic Limit**: If the wire is stretched beyond its elastic limit, it may not return to its original length when the force is removed, leading to permanent deformation.
### Summary
When a wire is stretched to four times its original length, the cross-sectional area decreases to one-fourth of its original value. The strain is 3 (or 300%), and the stress increases by a factor of 4 if the same force is applied. These changes affect how the wire behaves under load and how it will return to its original shape after the load is removed.