Where would an ideal wire brake?

Question

If we had an ideal copper wire, with no deformations of any kind on the whole length of the wire, and we apply two horizontal forces on the both ends of the wire and therefore, stretch it. First, it would expand, and then, it would break. But where? In the middle? On one of the ends? Where?

An ideal wire doesn't have a weak point, all points are the same

Answer 1

as you have to apply the force, you need fixtures on both ends, which will weaken those points, so there is were it snaps. if we disregard this, than there is the point of heat, which is governed by quantum mechanics, and is present as "particles", called phonons, in analogy with light particles (photons). this gives a random inhomogeneity in the wire, so the breaking point is decided then by probability. however, depending on the length of the wire,a standing wave may be possible along the length of the wire, and the breaking would occur at either one of the knots or one of the troughs.

Answer 2

You actually may be able to answer this question deductively. It might have to break in the middle because every point on the wire away from the middle would have a mechanically/structurally identical point in the other half of the wire the same distance from the middle as the breaking point in question. The exact middle is the only point that has no such "twin point" elsewhere along the wire. However for this to be true one has to assume that the wire can't break at two different points simultaneusly.

Answer 3

In practice, the object applying the pulling force would break before the wire. If any work was done, the wire would stretch it beyond the point where the wire was fully straightened. This would create a weakness in the center.

But in theory, without that stretching, every segment of the wire bears equal load, so the break in any location would have the same probability.

Answer 4

I might be wrong, but I think it would brake in the middle. The reason for this is that because of stretching the shape of the wire would deform. It would get thinner from the middle part of the wire more than from part closer to either ends. The very ends of the wire wouldn't get thinner at all since they are attached to the pulling system and we can assume that the pulling system wouldn't deform.

I would assume that since the dimensions of the wire change most in the middle, it would brake there.

Answer 5

If it was perfect, which would be difficult to attain an absolutely perfect wire, it should break in the middle as there is equal force on either end stretching it out to its breaking point. I think.

Answer 6

it would brake where the most heat was generated from the opposing forces by stretching it, most likely in the middle.
I would also have to speculate that the forces pulling it were not going to break down, that would lead to it breaking on one disabled end and the other would be stressed out, and the wire would just drop/warp at the able end, from the heat generated.

Answer 7

It would break at the point where there are impurities in the copper wire. No mater how well you made the wire theres always impurities.

However, copper is extreemly ductile; it will break given time but its amazing how it can be formed and shaped

Answer 8

At its weakest point, of course.