- #1
hb20007
- 18
- 0
I am familiar with the formula for energy density: [itex]\frac{1}{2}[/itex] * [itex]\frac{Force*Extension}{Area*length}[/itex] and also the formula for elastic potential energy: [itex]\frac{1}{2}[/itex] * [itex]Force*Extension[/itex].
I noticed that there is a 1/2 in both formulas because we are concerned with the average force in each case and that would be half of the maximum force 'F'.
As for the stress formula, I was surprised to see it given in my textbook as [itex]\frac{Force}{Area}[/itex]. Several websites define stress as the 'average force per unit area', so why don't we multiply by 1/2 like the other two cases?
I noticed that there is a 1/2 in both formulas because we are concerned with the average force in each case and that would be half of the maximum force 'F'.
As for the stress formula, I was surprised to see it given in my textbook as [itex]\frac{Force}{Area}[/itex]. Several websites define stress as the 'average force per unit area', so why don't we multiply by 1/2 like the other two cases?