Physics 9702 · AS & A Level · Stress and strain

Stress and strain — practice question

A lamp hangs in equilibrium from a fixed support, held by three long identical wires. The lamp’s weight makes each wire extend by $0.40\,\text{cm}$. The height $h$ of the lamp above the floor is then measured. The centre wire suddenly snaps, and the lamp drops a short distance while the extensions of the other two wires increase. The wires obey Hooke’s law. When the lamp is again in equilibrium, the height $h$ of the lamp above the floor is measured once more. What is the difference between the two values of $h$?

  • A$0.20\,\text{cm}$
  • B$0.27\,\text{cm}$
  • C$0.40\,\text{cm}$
  • D$0.60\,\text{cm}$

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