Stress
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Definition
Stress is the internal force per unit area within a material resulting from externally applied forces, measured in pascals (Pa) or pounds per square inch (psi).
Explanation
A 10,000 N load spread over 0.01 m² produces 1 MPa (megapascal) of stress. Structural steel yields at around 250 MPa and fractures near 400–500 MPa. Engineers design bridges and buildings to keep stresses well below material yield points, with safety factors typically of 1.5–3x. Stress concentration at holes, notches, or cracks can multiply local stress many times above the average.
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RELATED TERMS
Torque
Torque is the rotational equivalent of force, equal to the applied force multiplied by the perpendicular distance from the pivot point, measured in newton-meters (N·m) or pound-feet (lb·ft).
Strain
Strain is the dimensionless ratio of a material's deformation (change in length) to its original length under applied stress: ε = ΔL/L₀.
Viscosity
Viscosity is a fluid's resistance to deformation or flow, quantifying internal friction between fluid layers; dynamic viscosity is measured in pascal-seconds (Pa·s) or centipoise (cP).
RPM
RPM (revolutions per minute) is a unit of rotational speed measuring how many complete turns an object makes in one minute.
Tensile Strength
Tensile strength is the maximum stress a material can withstand while being stretched before it fractures, measured in megapascals (MPa) or pounds per square inch (psi).