Calculating Elastic Modulus Using Steel Wire Stretching Data

[GiovanniG]

Homework Statement

A steel wire 2.9mm in diameter stretches by 0.038{\rm \\%} when a mass is suspended from it. The elastic modulus for steel is 2.0×1011N/m2

*that {\rm \\%} value is in my homework, I assumed it was a mistake and was meant to be mm

Homework Equations

young's module for elasticity F/A=E(Δl/l)

The Attempt at a Solution

So to answer this I think I need to find F because that equals mg, so I'll just divide F by 9.8.

However I'm not given l so inserting the numbers into the equation I get
F/ [(.5*.0029)^2*π]=2.0*10^11{[(l+.00038)-l]/l}
There are two unknowns and I don't know about other equations to answer this problem, usually original length is given so I'm very confused.

 

[SteamKing]

Homework Statement

A steel wire 2.9mm in diameter stretches by 0.038{\rm \\%} when a mass is suspended from it. The elastic modulus for steel is 2.0×1011N/m2

*that {\rm \\%} value is in my homework, I assumed it was a mistake and was meant to be mm

Homework Equations

young's module for elasticity F/A=E(Δl/l)

The Attempt at a Solution

So to answer this I think I need to find F because that equals mg, so I'll just divide F by 9.8.

However I'm not given l so inserting the numbers into the equation I get
F/ [(.5*.0029)^2*π]=2.0*10^11{[(l+.00038)-l]/l}
There are two unknowns and I don't know about other equations to answer this problem, usually original length is given so I'm very confused.

It's not clear what you are supposed to find here, F or the length of the wire.

 

[GiovanniG]

The exact question is "How large is the mass?"

 

[SteamKing]

The exact question is "How large is the mass?"

What if instead of the wire stretching by 0.038 mm, it stretched by 0.038% of its original length?

 

[GiovanniG]

What if instead of the wire stretching by 0.038 mm, it stretched by 0.038% of its original length?

That makes so much more sense and I was able to solve it, thank you so much I was working on this problem forever :)