A bar of copper and steel form a composite system which is heated thr...
As thermal coefficient of expansion (α) is more for copper in comparison to steel. So during heating, the tendency of copper is to elongate more, which will be restricted by steel. So copper will experience compressive stress while steel will experience tensile stress.
A bar of copper and steel form a composite system which is heated thr...
Understanding the Composite System
When a composite bar of copper and steel is heated, the materials expand due to thermal expansion. The coefficient of thermal expansion (α) for copper is greater than that of steel (αcopper > αsteel).
Consequences of Differential Expansion
- Thermal Expansion: As temperature increases, both materials expand, but copper expands more than steel due to its higher α value.
- Constraints: In a composite system, the two materials are bonded together. When heated, the greater expansion of copper is constrained by the relatively less expanding steel.
Induced Stress in Copper
- Nature of Stress: The restriction imposed by the steel leads to a situation where copper, unable to expand freely, experiences compressive stress.
- Tensile vs. Compressive: Although copper typically tends to expand more, the physical constraints from the steel prevent this expansion, resulting in compressive stress in the copper bar.
Conclusion
- Final Stress State: The stress induced in the copper bar when heated to 40℃ is compressive due to the differential expansion and the constraints imposed by the steel.
Thus, the correct answer is option 'B': Compressive stress is induced in the copper bar when the composite system is heated.
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