Chapter 18, Problem 28A

To determine

The side of meterstick under compression and tension.

Answer to Problem 28A

On bending a meter stick,convex side is under tension and concave side is under compression.

Explanation of Solution

Introduction:

A meterstick is held at both the ends.The force is applied on the meterstick in order to bend it such that the fibers of the stick will experience tension and compression.

When a stick is bent, top part of the stick expands and stretches as shown below. The top side of stick is stretchedwhile bottom side of the stick experiences compression.

  

Hence, tension occurs upside (convex) and compression occur downside (concave) of the stick.

Conclusion:

Thus, convex side of stick is under tension while concave side of stick is under compression.