Two wires P and Q of same cross-sectional area A=10mm2 and the same length l0=1 m but made of different materials are joined together and their ends are rigidly clamp between two walls with negligible tension. Their respective Young's modulus and the coefficients of linear expansion are Y1,α1 and Y2,α2 respectively.
Given Y1=2×109N/m2,α1=3×10−4/∘C,Y2=109N/m2,α2=6×10−4/∘C,
If the temperature of system is reduced by 20∘C the tension developed in wire P is
120 N
If F is the horizontal force on the wire, then
(El0AY1+Fl0FY2)=α1ΔT+α2ΔT
Putting values gives F = 120 N.