Stress and strain
6.1What the syllabus asks of you
- understand that deformation is caused by tensile or compressive forces (forces and deformations will be assumed to be in one dimension only)
- understand and use the terms load, extension, compression and limit of proportionality
- recall and use Hooke’s law
- recall and use the formula for the spring constant k = F / x
- define and use the terms stress, strain and the Young modulus
- describe an experiment to determine the Young modulus of a metal in the form of a wire
Read the notes first
Chapter 6: Stress and strain
Drill this topic
Every question on Stress and strain, untimed, marked as you go.
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95 questions
1May / June 2026 · Paper 11 · Q20Show mark scheme →
Athe cross-sectional area of the wire
Bthe strain of the wire
Cthe stress in the wire
Dthe Young modulus of the metal
Mark scheme
2May / June 2026 · Paper 11 · Q22Show mark scheme →
Asingle spring with load
Btwo springs in parallel with load
Ctwo springs in series with load
Dtwo springs in parallel joined to a third in series with load
Mark scheme
3May / June 2026 · Paper 13 · Q21Show mark scheme →
A0.67m
B1.0m
C1.5m
D3.0m
Mark scheme
4May / June 2026 · Paper 14 · Q19Show mark scheme →
AX has a greater extension for the same mass when obeying Hooke's law than Y.
BX supports a greater maximum mass before breaking than Y.
CY has a greater extension at its elastic limit than X.
DY stops obeying Hooke's law for a smaller mass than X.
Mark scheme
5May / June 2026 · Paper 14 · Q22Show mark scheme →
Aforce per unit extension
Bproduct of force and extension
Cproduct of stress and strain
Dstress per unit strain
Mark scheme
6Oct / Nov 2025 · Paper 11 · Q21Show mark scheme →
A8.0 × 10^3 Pa
B7.8 × 10^4 Pa
C1.5 × 10^5 Pa
D3.2 × 10^6 Pa
Mark scheme
7Oct / Nov 2025 · Paper 12 · Q21Show mark scheme →
Acompression
Bload
Cstrain
Dstress
Mark scheme
8Oct / Nov 2025 · Paper 12 · Q22Show mark scheme →
A2.3 × 10⁴ N m⁻¹
B9.1 × 10⁴ N m⁻¹
C4.5 × 10⁷ N m⁻¹
D7.1 × 10⁷ N m⁻¹
Mark scheme
9Oct / Nov 2025 · Paper 13 · Q21Show mark scheme →
A8.0 × 10^3 Pa
B7.8 × 10^4 Pa
C1.5 × 10^5 Pa
D3.2 × 10^6 Pa
Mark scheme
10Oct / Nov 2025 · Paper 14 · Q20Show mark scheme →
A2.1 \times 10^6\, Pa
B3.2 \times 10^6\, Pa
C5.7 \times 10^6\, Pa
D1.3 \times 10^7\, Pa
Mark scheme
11Oct / Nov 2025 · Paper 14 · Q23Show mark scheme →
AFx
B2Fx^2
CF/x
DF/x^2
Mark scheme
12May / June 2025 · Paper 11 · Q21Show mark scheme →
A0.17 N m–1
B0.25 N m–1
C4.0 N m–1
D6.0 N m–1
Mark scheme
13May / June 2025 · Paper 11 · Q23Show mark scheme →
A$\dfrac{\pi d^2}{4kL}$
B$\dfrac{\pi d^2}{kL}$
C$\dfrac{kL}{\pi d^2}$
D$\dfrac{4kL}{\pi d^2}$
Mark scheme
14May / June 2025 · Paper 12 · Q21Show mark scheme →
Astress ✓
Bstrain ✓
Cstrain ✓, Young modulus ✓
Dstress ✓, Young modulus ✓
Mark scheme
15May / June 2025 · Paper 13 · Q20Show mark scheme →
Astress: newton, strain: metre, Young modulus: pascal
Bstress: newton, strain: no unit, Young modulus: newton
Cstress: pascal, strain: metre, Young modulus: newton
Dstress: pascal, strain: no unit, Young modulus: pascal
Mark scheme
16May / June 2025 · Paper 13 · Q22Show mark scheme →
A\(\left(\dfrac{L_1}{L_0}\right) - 1\)
B\(L_1 - L_0\)
C\(\left(\dfrac{L_1}{L_0}\right) + 1\)
D\(L_1 + L_0\)
Mark scheme
17May / June 2025 · Paper 13 · Q23Show mark scheme →
AA
BB
CC
DD
Mark scheme
18May / June 2025 · Paper 14 · Q17Show mark scheme →
Aextension per unit cross-sectional area
Bextension per unit original length
Cforce per unit cross-sectional area
Dforce per unit extension
Mark scheme
19Feb / March 2025 · Paper 12 · Q20Show mark scheme →
A0.25
B0.50
C2.0
D4.0
Mark scheme
20Oct / Nov 2024 · Paper 11 · Q19Show mark scheme →
A0.017 m
B0.033 m
C0.16 m
D0.33 m
Mark scheme
21Oct / Nov 2024 · Paper 11 · Q20Show mark scheme →
Astress × x / L
BF / (A × strain)
CF × x / (A × L)
Dstrain / stress
Mark scheme
22Oct / Nov 2024 · Paper 11 · Q23Show mark scheme →
A2.5 mm
B3.5 mm
C4.8 mm
D5.0 mm
Mark scheme
23Oct / Nov 2024 · Paper 12 · Q20Show mark scheme →
A1, 2 and 3
B1 and 3 only
C2 and 3 only
D2 only
Mark scheme
24Oct / Nov 2024 · Paper 12 · Q21Show mark scheme →
A2.0 × 10^8 N m–2
B2.0 × 10^11 N m–2
C8.0 × 10^8 N m–2
D8.0 × 10^11 N m–2
Mark scheme
25Oct / Nov 2024 · Paper 13 · Q21Show mark scheme →
A
B
C
D
Mark scheme
26Oct / Nov 2024 · Paper 13 · Q22Show mark scheme →
A2.6 × 10⁻⁸ m³
B6.3 × 10⁻⁸ m³
C5.0 × 10⁻⁷ m³
D1.2 × 10⁻⁶ m³
Mark scheme
27May / June 2024 · Paper 11 · Q21Show mark scheme →
A8.9 N m–1
B10 N m–1
C11 N m–1
D20 N m–1
Mark scheme
28May / June 2024 · Paper 11 · Q22Show mark scheme →
Aextension against force
Bforce against extension
Cstress against strain
Dstrain against stress
Mark scheme
29May / June 2024 · Paper 12 · Q19Show mark scheme →
A1/3
B1/√3
C√3
D3
Mark scheme
30May / June 2024 · Paper 12 · Q20Show mark scheme →
A0.025 N m–1
B0.40 N m–1
C2.5 N m–1
D40 N m–1
Mark scheme
31May / June 2024 · Paper 13 · Q19Show mark scheme →
Agraph A
Bgraph B
Cgraph C
Dgraph D
Mark scheme
32Feb / March 2024 · Paper 12 · Q22Show mark scheme →
Athe point at which the wire breaks
Bthe point beyond which Hooke's law is not obeyed
Cthe point beyond which the wire cannot return to its original length
Dthe point beyond which the wire starts to deform plastically
Mark scheme
33Feb / March 2024 · Paper 12 · Q23Show mark scheme →
A8.0 cm
B16 cm
C17 cm
D33 cm
Mark scheme
34Oct / Nov 2023 · Paper 11 · Q18Show mark scheme →
A5.7 × 10⁵ Pa
B1.1 × 10⁶ Pa
C2.3 × 10⁶ Pa
D3.9 × 10⁶ Pa
Mark scheme
35Oct / Nov 2023 · Paper 12 · Q18Show mark scheme →
AArrangement A
BArrangement B
CArrangement C
DArrangement D
Mark scheme
36Oct / Nov 2023 · Paper 13 · Q18Show mark scheme →
A4.1 × 10⁻⁴
B1.3 × 10⁻³
C1.6 × 10⁻³
D5.2 × 10⁻³
Mark scheme
37May / June 2023 · Paper 11 · Q18Show mark scheme →
A0.20 cm
B0.27 cm
C0.40 cm
D0.60 cm
Mark scheme
38May / June 2023 · Paper 12 · Q18Show mark scheme →
Aextension per unit force
B1/2 × force × extension
Cforce × extension
Dforce per unit extension
Mark scheme
39May / June 2023 · Paper 13 · Q18Show mark scheme →
A1.2 × 10² N
B3.9 × 10² N
C5.0 × 10² N
D1.6 × 10³ N
Mark scheme
40Feb / March 2023 · Paper 12 · Q18Show mark scheme →
A0.019
B0.083
C1.85
D2.67
Mark scheme
41Oct / Nov 2022 · Paper 11 · Q19Show mark scheme →
Asingle spring with load
Btwo springs in parallel with load
Ctwo springs in series with load
Dtwo springs in parallel joined to a third spring in series with load
Mark scheme
42Oct / Nov 2022 · Paper 12 · Q20Show mark scheme →
Athe unstretched length of the wire and the cross-sectional area of the wire
Bthe unstretched length of the wire and the extension of the wire
Cthe Young modulus of the metal and the extension of the wire
Dthe Young modulus of the metal and the unstretched length of the wire
Mark scheme
43Oct / Nov 2022 · Paper 13 · Q19Show mark scheme →
A0.24 mm
B0.76 mm
C0.97 mm
D3.1 mm
Mark scheme
44May / June 2022 · Paper 11 · Q19Show mark scheme →
A8/1
B4/1
C1/1
D1/2
Mark scheme
45May / June 2022 · Paper 12 · Q19Show mark scheme →
A$7.2 \times 10^3\,\text{N}\,\text{m}^{-1}$
B$2.3 \times 10^4\,\text{N}\,\text{m}^{-1}$
C$2.9 \times 10^4\,\text{N}\,\text{m}^{-1}$
D$9.0 \times 10^4\,\text{N}\,\text{m}^{-1}$
Mark scheme
46May / June 2022 · Paper 13 · Q20Show mark scheme →
A3.0 × 10⁻⁷ m
B3.0 × 10⁻⁵ m
C3.0 × 10⁻⁴ m
D3.0 × 10⁻² m
Mark scheme
47Feb / March 2022 · Paper 12 · Q18Show mark scheme →
Aextension
Bstrain
Cstress
DYoung modulus
Mark scheme
48Oct / Nov 2021 · Paper 11 · Q19Show mark scheme →
Aε/σ
BεA/(σl)
Cσ/ε
Dσl/(εA)
Mark scheme
49Oct / Nov 2021 · Paper 12 · Q21Show mark scheme →
A\frac{5W}{6k}
B\frac{4W}{3k}
C\frac{7}{2}kW
D4kW
Mark scheme
50Oct / Nov 2021 · Paper 13 · Q20Show mark scheme →
ATwo springs in series, each with extension = 0.20 m, total load 1.6 N
BTwo springs in parallel, each with extension = 0.075 m, load 1.2 N
CTwo springs in parallel (each extension = 0.075 m) in series with a third spring (extension = 0.15 m), load 1.8 N
DTwo pairs of springs in parallel, each spring extension = 0.075 m, load 2.4 N
Mark scheme
51May / June 2021 · Paper 11 · Q19Show mark scheme →
A2 → 1 → 3 → 4
B3 → 4 → 2 → 1
C4 → 2 → 1 → 3
D4 → 3 → 2 → 1
Mark scheme
52May / June 2021 · Paper 12 · Q19Show mark scheme →
A0.25
B0.50
C2.0
D4.0
Mark scheme
53May / June 2021 · Paper 13 · Q20Show mark scheme →
Aε/σ
BFx/AL
Cσx/L
DF/(Aε)
Mark scheme
54Feb / March 2021 · Paper 12 · Q19Show mark scheme →
A\frac{\text{extension}}{\text{original length}}
B\frac{\text{force}}{\text{cross-sectional area}}
C\frac{\text{force}}{\text{extension}}
D\frac{\text{Young modulus}}{\text{original length}}
Mark scheme
55Oct / Nov 2020 · Paper 11 · Q19Show mark scheme →
A7.2 × 10^–7 m
B2.3 × 10^–6 m
C8.5 × 10^–4 m
D1.7 × 10^–3 m
Mark scheme
56Oct / Nov 2020 · Paper 12 · Q20Show mark scheme →
A1.05 N m⁻¹
B1.35 N m⁻¹
C10.3 N m⁻¹
D103 N m⁻¹
Mark scheme
57Oct / Nov 2020 · Paper 13 · Q20Show mark scheme →
A1.7 × 10^-4 m
B4.1 × 10^-4 m
C1.7 × 10^-3 m
D6.6 × 10^-3 m
Mark scheme
58May / June 2020 · Paper 12 · Q18Show mark scheme →
A5.7 × 10⁵ Pa
B1.1 × 10⁶ Pa
C2.3 × 10⁶ Pa
D3.9 × 10⁶ Pa
Mark scheme
59May / June 2020 · Paper 12 · Q19Show mark scheme →
AGraph of stress / 10^6 Pa against strain / 10^-3, with strain axis 0 to 80 and stress axis 0 to 4, same curve shape as original.
BGraph of stress / 10^6 Pa against strain / 10^-3, with strain axis 0 to 40 and stress axis 0 to 4, same curve shape as original.
CGraph of stress / 10^6 Pa against strain / 10^-3, with strain axis 0 to 80 and stress axis 0 to 16, same curve shape as original.
DGraph of stress / 10^6 Pa against strain / 10^-3, with strain axis 0 to 40 and stress axis 0 to 16, same curve shape as original.
Mark scheme
60May / June 2020 · Paper 13 · Q20Show mark scheme →
A2
B4
C8
D16
Mark scheme
61Feb / March 2020 · Paper 12 · Q19Show mark scheme →
A2.9 × 10^6 Pa
B5.7 × 10^6 Pa
C2.9 × 10^9 Pa
D5.7 × 10^9 Pa
Mark scheme
62Oct / Nov 2019 · Paper 11 · Q19Show mark scheme →
A0.025 N m⁻¹
B0.40 N m⁻¹
C2.5 N m⁻¹
D40 N m⁻¹
Mark scheme
63Oct / Nov 2019 · Paper 12 · Q18Show mark scheme →
A4.2 cm
B5.6 cm
C15 cm
D20 cm
Mark scheme
64Oct / Nov 2019 · Paper 13 · Q19Show mark scheme →
A6.7 × 10⁻¹² Pa
B6.7 × 10⁻⁹ Pa
C1.5 × 10⁸ Pa
D1.5 × 10¹¹ Pa
Mark scheme
65May / June 2019 · Paper 11 · Q21Show mark scheme →
A1.7 × 10^-4 m
B3.0 × 10^-4 m
C3.9 × 10^-4 m
D9.0 × 10^-4 m
Mark scheme
66May / June 2019 · Paper 13 · Q19Show mark scheme →
A2.0 × 10⁸ N m⁻²
B2.0 × 10¹¹ N m⁻²
C8.0 × 10⁸ N m⁻²
D8.0 × 10¹¹ N m⁻²
Mark scheme
67Feb / March 2019 · Paper 12 · Q19Show mark scheme →
AE = \frac{ml}{Ae}
BE = \frac{mgl}{Ae}
CE = \frac{me}{Al}
DE = \frac{mge}{Al}
Mark scheme
68Feb / March 2019 · Paper 12 · Q20Show mark scheme →
A8.0 cm
B16 cm
C17 cm
D33 cm
Mark scheme
69Oct / Nov 2018 · Paper 11 · Q18Show mark scheme →
Ae/4
Be/2
Ce
D2e
Mark scheme
70Oct / Nov 2018 · Paper 11 · Q19Show mark scheme →
Aelastic limit
Bspring constant
Cstress
DYoung modulus
Mark scheme
71Oct / Nov 2018 · Paper 12 · Q20Show mark scheme →
AA = 1.5 × 10⁻⁵ m², σ = 50 MPa
BA = 1.5 × 10⁻⁵ m², σ = 80 MPa
CA = 7.5 × 10⁻⁵ m², σ = 50 MPa
DA = 7.5 × 10⁻⁵ m², σ = 80 MPa
Mark scheme
72Oct / Nov 2018 · Paper 13 · Q19Show mark scheme →
A5.5 × 10^10 Pa
B9.4 × 10^10 Pa
C1.6 × 10^11 Pa
D2.2 × 10^11 Pa
Mark scheme
73May / June 2018 · Paper 11 · Q18Show mark scheme →
A\frac{2}{3}x
B\frac{3}{4}x
C\frac{4}{3}x
D\frac{3}{2}x
Mark scheme
74May / June 2018 · Paper 11 · Q19Show mark scheme →
AGraph A: stress against strain, both curves non-linear; steel curve above brass curve
BGraph B: stress against strain, both straight lines through origin; steel line steeper than brass line
CGraph C: stress against strain, both curves non-linear; brass curve above steel curve
DGraph D: stress against strain, both straight lines through origin; brass line steeper than steel line
Mark scheme
75May / June 2018 · Paper 12 · Q21Show mark scheme →
A0.080 N m⁻¹
B0.13 N m⁻¹
C2.7 N m⁻¹
D8.0 N m⁻¹
Mark scheme
76May / June 2018 · Paper 13 · Q18Show mark scheme →
A1.3 × 10–4 %
B5.1 × 10–4 %
C1.3 × 10–2 %
D5.1 × 10–2 %
Mark scheme
77Feb / March 2018 · Paper 12 · Q19Show mark scheme →
A
B
C
D
Mark scheme
78Feb / March 2018 · Paper 12 · Q20Show mark scheme →
A0.1
B1
C10
D100
Mark scheme
79Oct / Nov 2017 · Paper 12 · Q20Show mark scheme →
A0.25
B0.50
C2.0
D4.0
Mark scheme
80Oct / Nov 2017 · Paper 12 · Q21Show mark scheme →
A32 MN
B56 GN
C720 GN
D32 TN
Mark scheme
81May / June 2017 · Paper 11 · Q20Show mark scheme →
Ax = \frac{Ml}{\pi d^2 E}
Bx = \frac{Mgl}{\pi d^2 E}
Cx = \frac{4Mgl}{\pi d E}
Dx = \frac{4Mgl}{\pi d^2 E}
Mark scheme
82May / June 2017 · Paper 12 · Q20Show mark scheme →
Astress: newton, strain: metre, Young modulus: pascal
Bstress: newton, strain: no unit, Young modulus: newton
Cstress: pascal, strain: metre, Young modulus: newton
Dstress: pascal, strain: no unit, Young modulus: pascal
Mark scheme
83May / June 2017 · Paper 13 · Q18Show mark scheme →
Adifferent, different, same
Bdifferent, same, same
Csame, different, different
Dsame, different, same
Mark scheme
84Feb / March 2017 · Paper 12 · Q20Show mark scheme →
A1/8
B1/2
C1
D8
Mark scheme
85Oct / Nov 2016 · Paper 11 · Q1Show mark scheme →
A10^{-11} Pa
B10^{-4} Pa
C10^{4} Pa
D10^{11} Pa
Mark scheme
86Oct / Nov 2016 · Paper 11 · Q22Show mark scheme →
AHalve the cross-sectional area of the wire.
BHalve the diameter of the wire.
CHalve the length of the wire.
DHalve the load on the wire.
Mark scheme
87Oct / Nov 2016 · Paper 12 · Q22Show mark scheme →
A2.0 × 10^8 N m–2
B2.0 × 10^11 N m–2
C8.0 × 10^8 N m–2
D8.0 × 10^11 N m–2
Mark scheme
88Oct / Nov 2016 · Paper 13 · Q1Show mark scheme →
A10^{-11} Pa
B10^{-4} Pa
C10^{4} Pa
D10^{11} Pa
Mark scheme
89Oct / Nov 2016 · Paper 13 · Q22Show mark scheme →
AHalve the cross-sectional area of the wire.
BHalve the diameter of the wire.
CHalve the length of the wire.
DHalve the load on the wire.
Mark scheme
90May / June 2016 · Paper 11 · Q3Show mark scheme →
A2 × 10^10 N m^–2
B4 × 10^10 N m^–2
C2 × 10^11 N m^–2
D4 × 10^11 N m^–2
Mark scheme
91May / June 2016 · Paper 11 · Q20Show mark scheme →
Aload
Bload
Cload
Dload
Mark scheme
92May / June 2016 · Paper 12 · Q20Show mark scheme →
A4.2 N m–1
B43 N m–1
C110 N m–1
D420 N m–1
Mark scheme
93May / June 2016 · Paper 13 · Q21Show mark scheme →
A1.4 × 10⁵ Pa
B1.4 × 10⁸ Pa
C1.4 × 10⁹ Pa
D1.4 × 10¹¹ Pa
Mark scheme
94May / June 2016 · Paper 13 · Q22Show mark scheme →
ABoth X and Y are in compression.
BBoth X and Y are in tension.
CX is in compression and Y is in tension.
DX is in tension and Y is in compression.
Mark scheme
95Feb / March 2016 · Paper 12 · Q19Show mark scheme →
A4
B2
C1
D0.5
Mark scheme