How Do You Calculate the Force Constant of a Copper Wire Using Young's Modulus?

[dazza67]

Homework Statement

Help I have spent a couple of days on this one and I am lost...

What would the force constant be for a 75.0 cm length of 16-gauge (dia=1.291mm) copper wire? Y copper=11x10^10 Pa
The answer being in Nm.
The problem is I don’t even know where or how to approach this problem as when I have looked at hookes law and Young’s I fail to see how to fit this problem into the equations. I will accept lack of understanding, fatigue, or just plain stupidity on my behalf. If someone could spare the time to step me through it, i don't need this solved, just the steps so I can solve it myself. I would be grateful thanks

Homework Equations

The Attempt at a Solution

Basically 8 pages of incomprehensible gibberish

 

[Dick]

I just answered that same question about steel. The units of Y are N/m^2. The force constant k is N/m. Let the cross sectional area be A and the length L. A REALLY good guess would be k=Y*A/L. Wouldn't it? Think dimensional analysis. Confirm it by looking it up or applying physical intuition.

 

[dazza67]

Sloved--- yeh

Dick thanks for your help. The big issue I found is to change every thing into base units and work in scientific notation, a big part of my problem, how ever your gental push in the right direction has me now on track Big thanks