1. What is Bulk Modulus?

The bulk modulus (K) is a measure of a substance's resistance to uniform compression. It's defined as the ratio of the infinitesimal pressure increase to the resulting relative decrease in volume.

2. How Does the Calculator Work?

The calculator uses the bulk modulus equation:

Where:

• \( K \) — Bulk modulus (Pa)
• \( \Delta P \) — Change in pressure (Pa)
• \( \Delta V \) — Change in volume (m³)
• \( V \) — Initial volume (m³)

Explanation: The equation shows how much pressure is needed to achieve a given volume change relative to the original volume.

3. Importance of Bulk Modulus

Details: Bulk modulus is crucial in material science and engineering for understanding compressibility of materials, designing pressure vessels, and studying fluid dynamics.

4. Using the Calculator

Tips: Enter pressure change in pascals (Pa), volume changes in cubic meters (m³). All values must be positive numbers.

5. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q1: What are typical bulk modulus values?
A: Water has ~2.2 GPa, steel ~160 GPa, air ~0.1 MPa (at constant temperature).

Q2: How does bulk modulus relate to compressibility?
A: Compressibility is the reciprocal of bulk modulus (β = 1/K).

Q3: Is bulk modulus constant for a material?
A: No, it varies with temperature and pressure conditions.

Q4: What's the difference between bulk and Young's modulus?
A: Young's modulus describes linear deformation, while bulk modulus describes volumetric deformation.

Q5: How is bulk modulus used in acoustics?
A: It helps determine the speed of sound in materials (v = √(K/ρ)).