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Calculating tensile strength from load and area

Aviation Mechanic General (AMG) practice question 4 of 33 on Aircraft Materials, Hardware, and Processes. ACS element AM.I.E.K3 · difficulty: applied. Want to answer it in a timed quiz? Use the Aviation Mechanic General (AMG) practice mode.

Question bank updated 2026-09-22

QUESTIONA test specimen with a cross-sectional area of 0.5 square inch is pulled apart by a load of 30,000 pounds. What is the tensile strength of the material?

  1. A15,000 psi
  2. B30,000 psi (the same as the load)
  3. C60,000 psi
Show the answer and explanation

Correct answer: C. 60,000 psi

  • A — incorrect This results from multiplying the load by the area instead of dividing the load by the area.
  • B — incorrect The load must be divided by the cross-sectional area; only when the area is exactly 1 square inch would the psi value equal the load.
  • C — correct Tensile strength is the load in pounds required to pull the material apart divided by its cross-sectional area in square inches: 30,000 divided by 0.5 equals 60,000 psi.

BACKGROUND

The tensile strength of a material is its resistance to a force that tends to pull it apart. Tensile strength is measured in pounds per square inch (psi) and is calculated by dividing the load in pounds required to pull the material apart by its cross-sectional area in square inches. Compression strength, the resistance to a crushing force, is also measured in psi. Shear strength is likewise the shear force in psi at which a material fails, found by dividing the load by the shear area.

STUDY TIP

Set up the formula as load divided by area, then check that a smaller area gives a larger psi value.

KEY POINTS

  • Tensile strength = load (lb) ÷ cross-sectional area (sq in).
  • Tensile strength is expressed in psi.
  • A smaller cross-sectional area yields a higher psi for the same failing load.

SOURCES

  • FAA-H-8083-30B ch07 "Metalworking Processes" (tensile strength passage)
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SkyDrill is not affiliated with the FAA. This is an original practice item based on FAA-H-8083-30B Aviation Maintenance Technician Handbook – General, 14 CFR part 43 and part 65. Regulations and handbooks are revised; confirm details against the current edition.