Question

If you stand on a trampoline, it depresses under your weight. When you stand on a hard stone floor _________

a)only if you are heavy enough does the floor deform at all under your weight
b)the floor deforms very slightly under your weight
c)the floor does not deform at all under your weight

Answer 1

The floor deforms very slightly under your weight when you stand on a hard stone floor, due to the normal force countering your body's weight. The high rigidity of stone means this deformation is minimal and not easily noticeable.

Step-by-step explanation:

When you stand on a hard stone floor, the floor deforms very slightly under your weight. This deformation occurs because the normal force exerted by the floor counters the force of gravity acting on your body. The effect is tiny since stone materials have a high modulus of elasticity, meaning they can withstand significant stress without undergoing permanent deformation. However, if you were to increase your weight, such as by holding a heavy object, or if you reduced the surface area over which your weight is distributed by standing on your toes, the pressure on the floor would increase, and the floor would deform to a slightly larger extent.

The deformation is akin to how a trampoline or a table sags under a weight, but much less noticeable due to the rigidity of stone. In contrast to a trampoline, which has a lot of give and visibly deforms, a hard floor's deformation is minimal.