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⚛️ Physics  ·  Mechanical Properties of Solids  ·  NEET & JEE

In a tensile test, a metal sample shows necking (localized thinning) just before fracture. This occurs at a stress level called the:

Answer: Ultimate tensile strength.

  • A Elastic limit
  • B Yield point
  • C Ultimate tensile strength
  • D Proportional limit

Correct answer: C. Ultimate tensile strength

Explanation: Necking begins at the ultimate tensile strength, the maximum stress on the curve, after which the engineering stress appears to decrease until fracture even though true stress increases.

Stress-Strain Curve for a Ductile Metal WireStrainStresselastic limityield pointUTS (max stress)fractureSlope of the straight (elastic) portion = Young's modulus Y; the curve beyond elastic limit shows permanent (plastic) deformation

A typical stress-strain curve: the initial straight line (Hooke's Law region, slope = Young's modulus) ends at the elastic limit; beyond the yield point, deformation becomes permanent, peaking at the ultimate tensile strength before the wire finally fractures.

Concept context

Stress, strain, Hookes law, and the elastic moduli that describe how solids deform and recover under load.

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