A change in shape due to the application of a force is a deformation. Even very small forces are known to cause some deformation. For small deformations, two important characteristics are observed. Fi...A change in shape due to the application of a force is a deformation. Even very small forces are known to cause some deformation. For small deformations, two important characteristics are observed. First, the object returns to its original shape when the force is removed—that is, the deformation is elastic for small deformations. Second, the size of the deformation is proportional to the force—that is, for small deformations, Hooke’s law is obeyed.
Rigid bodies can only be deformed by a certain amount before the deformation becomes permanent. The maximum stress that can be applied to a material before it becomes permanently deformed is called th...Rigid bodies can only be deformed by a certain amount before the deformation becomes permanent. The maximum stress that can be applied to a material before it becomes permanently deformed is called the elastic limit. If a stress less than the elastic limit is applied, then the body will resume its original shape once the stress is removed. A related quantity is the tensile strength, which is the maximum stress a sample can endure before fracturing.
