Bulk modulus

Bulk modulus

In physics, bulk modulus is one of the most interesting topics used in describing the elastic properties of solid or fluid material when it is placed under the pressure of all surfaces. We can describe a material’s response to strain and stress with laws such as Young’s modulus, Hooke’s law, shear modulus, and bulk modulus.

Bulk modulus definition

The bulk modulus is defined as the measure of decreasing the volume and increasing the pressure. It is used in measuring the mechanical properties of solids and other elastic modulus and the proportion of volumetric stress, which is related to the volumetric strain in a specific material while the material is deforming within the elastic limit.

So basically, the bulk modulus is just a numerical constant used to measure the elastic property of a solid or a fluid material when pressure is applied on all surfaces. Sometimes bulk modulus is also referred to as incomprehensibility. 

The bulk modulus of elasticity

The bulk modulus of elasticity is also known as one of the measures of mechanical properties of solids.

Bulk modulus is indicated by K or B in equations as well as in table when it is applied to a uniform substance the competition often shows the elasticity of that substance, and it can be used in predicting the compression, the density, and the types of chemical bonding within the substance.

The Bulk Modulus has Pascal (Pa) or Newton per square meter (N/m2) units in the metric system.

There are different elastic modulus, and formulas are used for finding out the elasticity, such as Young’s modulus and shear modulus.

The relative formation is also known as strain, and it is found out by the change volume when it is divided by the original volume.

A bulk modulus is also a specific form of Hooke’s law of elasticity, and the bulk modulus can  also be found out when pressure is divided by strain.

The bulk modulus of elasticity

Elasticity, known as the ability when a material is deformed, returns to its original shape and size as the material or the object stretches back. Elasticity can be defined as the ability of an object to deform its shape and return back to its former size after being stretched or compressed due to the application of an external force. Most of the materials are known to exhibit elastic behavior.

What is compressibility?

Compressibility is defined as where the materials are being reduced to a smaller space; the pressure compressibility in the fluid is also used to measure the change of density produced by a specific change in pressure, and in gases, the compressibility is higher than in liquids.

What can be deduced from the relationship between compressibility and bulk modulus?

Bulk modulus and compressibility are interconnected. Both concepts deal with pressure and volume.

Relationship between components ability and bulk modulus-

Modulus is also often known as the ratio found between the increased pressure and the decreased volume of the material; it is often denoted by the letter K; the compressibility is defined as the ratio of volume to the change in pressure and denoted by the letter B. 

The bulk modulus of water

The bulk modulus of water or liquid is closely related to the compressibility and the pressure required to change the volume of the liquid. Since most liquids are incompressible, it requires a large amount of pressure to be applied for any significant volume changes.

The water has a bulk modulus of approximately 300,000 psi (2.1 GPa) giving the compressibility of 3.3 × 10−6 (psi)−1.

Conclusion

There are different uses and applications of bulk modulus and elasticity in our day-to-day life, such as fishing rods, mattresses, bracelets, and clothes. These all are closely related in describing the elastic properties of any solid or fluid when the increased pressure has been applied on all the surfaces of the material there are also many modules- such as the Young modulus and hooke’s law which is being exerted on our day to day life such as in making bridges or in air balloons.