- #1
- 10,302
- 1,472
The following was "split-off" from https://www.physicsforums.com/showthread.php?t=171079
uiulic said:
uiulic said:Mr Hillman,
I have the following questions that have puzzled me and seek to get some release here.
1 stress vs strain (e.g. Hooker's elastic spring law f=ks, or in tensor expressions),
which is a more fundmental physical quantity ? (they are not fundmental in physics I know, but seem yes for deformable materials) Is this only a circular argument?
2 Is the first question similar to F=ma (the relation between F and a)?
Elasticity is a measure of how much a material can stretch or deform under stress, and how well it can return to its original shape when the stress is removed.
The elasticity of a material depends on its composition, structure, and temperature. Materials with stronger bonds between molecules tend to be more elastic, while higher temperatures can decrease elasticity.
Elasticity is typically measured using a stress-strain curve, where the stress (force applied) is plotted against the strain (resulting deformation). The slope of this curve, known as the Young's modulus, is a measure of elasticity.
Elasticity is important in many fields, such as engineering, materials science, and medicine. It is used in the design of buildings, bridges, and other structures, as well as in the development of new materials and medical devices.
Elasticity and strength are related but not the same. A material can be strong, meaning it can withstand high stresses, but not very elastic, meaning it can only deform a small amount. On the other hand, a material can be highly elastic but not very strong, meaning it can stretch a lot but may break under low stress.