Related Formula
Young's modulus Y$Y$ is defined as:
Y = StressStrain = (F / A)/(l / L) = (F L)/(A l)$$Y = \frac{\text{Stress}}{\text{Strain}} = \frac{F / A}{l / L} = \frac{F L}{A l}$$
Solving for the extension l$l$:
l = (F L)/(A Y) = (F L)/(π r² Y)$$l = \frac{F L}{A Y} = \frac{F L}{\pi r^2 Y}$$
Since the material does not change, Y$Y$ remains constant.
Core Logic
Let the original parameters be F$F$, r$r$, L$L$, l$l$. The extension is:
l = (F L)/(π r² Y) (i)$$l = \frac{F L}{\pi r^2 Y} \quad \dots (i)$$
When the force and radius are both halved, keeping original length L$L$ and Young's Modulus Y$Y$ constant:
l' = (F' L)/(π (r')² Y) = ((F/2) L)/(π (r/2)² Y)$$l' = \frac{F' L}{\pi (r')^2 Y} = \frac{(F/2) L}{\pi (r/2)^2 Y}$$
l' = (F L / 2)/(π r² Y / 4) = 2 ( (F L)/(π r² Y) )$$l' = \frac{F L / 2}{\pi r^2 Y / 4} = 2 \left( \frac{F L}{\pi r^2 Y} \right)$$
Step 1: Calculate Final Extension
Comparing this with equation (i):
l' = 2l$l' = 2l$
Thus, the increase in length becomes 2 times$2\text{ times}$ its original value.
Pattern Recognition
From the formula l ∝ (F)/(r²)$l \propto \frac{F}{r^2}$, if F$F$ is scaled by (1)/(2)$\frac{1}{2}$ and r$r$ by (1)/(2)$\frac{1}{2}$, the scaling factor for l$l$ is (1/2)/((1/2)²) = 2$\frac{1/2}{(1/2)^2} = 2$ directly.
Chapter Mix
Class 11 Physics: Mechanical Properties of Solids