Strain hardening, elastic limit and elastic modulus experiment on copper, tie and fuse wires

Abstract

A strain hardening experiment for the undergraduate physics curriculum is proposed using a standard Young's Modulus Apparatus. Hardening is observed by observing the change in the elastic limit of the wires as they are repeatedly stretched and relaxed. The experiment makes it possible to perform elastic modulus experiments on soft but commercially available copper, tie and fuse wires by first strain hardening them.