Final answer:
The maximum stress in aluminum and steel can be determined by using the concept of bending stress in a composite bar.
Step-by-step explanation:
The maximum stress in aluminum and steel can be determined by using the concept of bending stress in a composite bar. When a bar is bent about a horizontal axis, the maximum stress is located at the outermost fibers of the material on the convex side of the bend. The formula to calculate the bending stress is:
σ = (M * y) / I
where σ is the stress, M is the moment acting on the bar, y is the distance from the neutral axis to the outermost fiber, and I is the moment of inertia of the bar's cross-sectional shape.
In this case, the steel bar and the aluminum bar have different Young's moduli (E) which directly influences the moment of inertia. Since the moment (M) is the same for both materials, the maximum stress will occur in the material with the larger Young's modulus. In this case, it will be the steel bar.