Question

Three wires have the same length L. Which wire will experience the largest normal strain?

a) Wire with the smallest cross-sectional area
b) Wire with the largest cross-sectional area
c) Wire with the least material density
d) Wire with the highest material density

Answer 1

The wire with the smallest cross-sectional area will experience the largest normal strain because the applied force is distributed over a smaller area, leading to more deformation.

Step-by-step explanation:

The wire that will experience the largest normal strain when stretched is the one with the smallest cross-sectional area. Strain is a measure of deformation per unit length and is calculated as the change in length divided by the original length. Since all wires have the same length L, the deciding factor for the strain will be the cross-sectional area because the force applied to stretch the wire is distributed over the area of the wire. A smaller area means less material to handle the force, leading to more deformation and a higher strain.