The Achilles tendon, which connects the calf muscles to the heel, is the thickes
ID: 1508069 • Letter: T
Question
The Achilles tendon, which connects the calf muscles to the heel, is the thickest and strongest tendon in the body. In extreme activities, such as sprinting, it can be subjected to forces as high as 14 times a person's weight. According to one set of experiments, the average area of the Achilles tendon is 77.6 mm2 , its average length is 28 cm , and its average Young's modulus is 1474 MPa. How much tensile stress is required to stretch this muscle by 4.4 % of its length? If we model the tendon as a spring, what is its force constant? If a 75 kg sprinter exerts a force of 14 times his weight on his Achilles tendon, by how much will it stretch?
Explanation / Answer
Young's Modulus, E = Stress/Strain
Strain = L/L = ((4.4/100)*L)/L
Strain = 4.4/100
Stress = E * strain
Stress = 1474 * 10^6 * 4.4/100
Stress = 6.49 * 10^7 Pa
F = k*x
Stress * Area = k*x
6.49 * 10^7 *77.6 * 10^-6 = k * (4.4/100) * 0.28
k = 4.09 * 10^5 N/m
Where,
Stress = F/A = (14*75*9.8)/(77.6 * 10^-6)
Stress = 1.33 * 10^8 N/m^2
Strain = L/L
Strain = L/28 cm
Substituing Values,
1474 * 10^6 = (1.33 * 10^8 ) / (L/28)
L = 2.53 cm
Stretch , L = 2.53 cm
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