MCQEasyJEE 2025Young's Modulus, Bulk & Rigidity Modulus

JEE Physics 2025 Question with Solution

Two wires A and B are made of the same material, having the ratio of lengths LALB=13\frac{L_A}{L_B} = \frac{1}{3} and their diameters ratio dAdB=2\frac{d_A}{d_B} = 2. If both the wires are stretched using the same force, what would be the ratio of their respective elongations?

  • A

    1:61 : 6

  • B

    1:121 : 12

  • C

    3:43 : 4

  • D

    1:31 : 3

Answer

Correct answer:B

Step-by-step solution

Standard Method

Given: Two wires A and B are of the same material, so Young's modulus is the same for both. Also, LALB=13\frac{L_A}{L_B} = \frac{1}{3}, dAdB=2\frac{d_A}{d_B} = 2, and the stretching force is the same.

Find: The ratio of elongations ΔLA:ΔLB\Delta L_A : \Delta L_B.

For a wire under tension,

ΔL=FLAY\Delta L = \frac{FL}{AY}

where FF is the applied force, LL is the length, AA is the cross-sectional area, and YY is Young's modulus.

Since FF and YY are the same for both wires,

ΔLAΔLB=FLA/AAYFLB/ABY=LALB×ABAA\frac{\Delta L_A}{\Delta L_B} = \frac{F L_A / A_A Y}{F L_B / A_B Y} = \frac{L_A}{L_B} \times \frac{A_B}{A_A}

The cross-sectional area of a wire is

A=πd24A = \frac{\pi d^2}{4}

So,

AAAB=(dAdB)2=22=4\frac{A_A}{A_B} = \left( \frac{d_A}{d_B} \right)^2 = 2^2 = 4

Hence,

ABAA=14\frac{A_B}{A_A} = \frac{1}{4}

Now substitute the given ratios:

ΔLAΔLB=13×14=112\frac{\Delta L_A}{\Delta L_B} = \frac{1}{3} \times \frac{1}{4} = \frac{1}{12}

Therefore, the ratio of their elongations is 1:121 : 12. The correct option is B.

Using Strain Relation

Given: Same material and same stretching force for both wires.

Find: ΔLA:ΔLB\Delta L_A : \Delta L_B.

Using strain,

ΔLL=StressY=FAY\frac{\Delta L}{L} = \frac{\text{Stress}}{Y} = \frac{F}{AY}

So elongation is directly proportional to LA\frac{L}{A} when FF and YY are constant.

Thus,

ΔLAΔLB=LALB×ABAA\frac{\Delta L_A}{\Delta L_B} = \frac{L_A}{L_B} \times \frac{A_B}{A_A}

Now,

LALB=13,AAAB=(dAdB)2=4\frac{L_A}{L_B} = \frac{1}{3}, \qquad \frac{A_A}{A_B} = \left(\frac{d_A}{d_B}\right)^2 = 4

Therefore,

ΔLAΔLB=13×14=112\frac{\Delta L_A}{\Delta L_B} = \frac{1}{3} \times \frac{1}{4} = \frac{1}{12}

Hence, the required ratio is 1:121 : 12.

Common mistakes

  • Using diameter ratio directly in place of area ratio is incorrect because cross-sectional area is proportional to d2d^2, not dd. First convert dAdB=2\frac{d_A}{d_B} = 2 into AAAB=4\frac{A_A}{A_B} = 4.

  • Assuming elongation is directly proportional only to length is incomplete. Since ΔL=FLAY\Delta L = \frac{FL}{AY}, elongation depends on both length and area when force and material are the same.

  • Inverting the area factor is a common error. From ΔLAΔLB=LALB×ABAA\frac{\Delta L_A}{\Delta L_B} = \frac{L_A}{L_B} \times \frac{A_B}{A_A}, the area term must be ABAA\frac{A_B}{A_A}, not AAAB\frac{A_A}{A_B}.

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