23.3.1. Stress and Strain Curve

Try these first

1. 1.

   What is stress in geological terms?

   Hint

   Think about how much force is acting on a surface.

2. 2.

   Define strain in the context of geology.

   Hint

   How does the material change shape?

3. 3.

   What does stress refer to in geological terms?

   • Force per unit area
   • Mass per volume
   • Energy stored

   Hint

   Think of how weight is applied to a surface.

4. 4.

   True or False: Strain always leads to rupture.

   • True
   • False

   Hint

   Consider how rubber bands behave.

5. 5.

   A rubber band stretches under increasing tension until it reaches its yield point and then breaks. Describe the stress and strain behavior throughout this process, and what implications does this have for understanding geological materials?

   Hint

   Use the terms yield point and fracture point in your explanation.

6. 6.

   If a fault accumulates stress over decades and reaches the yield point, what determines whether it will slip immediately following this point or may creep gradually?

   Hint

   Consider the concepts of friction and fault mechanics.