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Question

Difficulty: EasyTypes of Stress and Strain

A heavy steel block is being lifted vertically by a crane using a single wire cable. As the block hangs from the cable, what type of internal stress is primarily acting on the cable?

  1. TensionAnswer
  2. B
    Compression
  3. C
    Shear
  4. D
    Torsion

Answer

Tension
The correct answer identifies that the cable is being pulled from opposite directions along its axis (upward by the crane, downward by the block). This pulling action attempts to stretch the cable, which defines tensile stress or tension.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Analyze the external forces acting on the cable.
The crane pulls upward on the cable, while the heavy block pulls downward due to gravity.
Identifying the direction of external forces is necessary to determine the resulting internal stress.
2
Determine how these forces affect the material.
The upward and downward forces pull in opposite directions, attempting to stretch or elongate the cable.
Matching the force pattern (pulling, pushing, sliding, twisting) reveals the stress type.
3
Identify the correct engineering term for this stress.
The stretching force is known as tension.
Tension is defined as the stress resulting from forces that act to pull a material apart.

Key Concept

Tension is the internal stress created when outward pulling forces act to stretch a structural component.
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Topics

Types of Stress and Strain

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