GENERAL PROPERTIES OF MATTER
2.1 Elasticity
1. Deforming Force
(5 points of 50 words each)
1. A deforming force is an external force applied to a body that changes its shape, size, or both.
When you stretch a rubber band or compress a spring, the force you apply is a deforming force. It
causes a temporary or permanent change in the body’s dimensions.
2. The deforming force is responsible for producing strain in a material. If the material is elastic, it
returns to its original shape once the force is removed; otherwise, it remains deformed. The amount
of deformation depends on the magnitude and direction of the applied force.
3. Deforming forces can act in different ways — tensile forces cause elongation, compressive
forces cause contraction, and shearing forces cause shape distortion. These forces are always
balanced internally by restoring forces within the material to resist deformation.
4. In practical applications, deforming forces are used intentionally — for example, in forging,
rolling, and shaping metals. Understanding the effect of deforming forces is essential in engineering
design to ensure materials can withstand external loads safely without failure.
5. The magnitude of deformation depends on the material’s elasticity and the applied force. For
small forces, deformation is often directly proportional to the applied load, as stated by Hooke’s law.
However, beyond a certain point, the deformation becomes non-linear and permanent.
2. Restoring Force
1. When a material is deformed by an external force, an internal force called the restoring force is
developed within it. This force acts in the opposite direction of the deformation and tries to bring the
material back to its original shape once the external force is removed.
2. The magnitude of the restoring force increases with the amount of deformation, as long as the
material remains within its elastic limit. It is this force that gives elastic materials their ability to
return to their original form after being stretched or compressed.
3. In ideal elastic bodies, the restoring force is exactly equal and opposite to the deforming force
within the elastic limit. Beyond this limit, the restoring force weakens, and the body may not fully
regain its original shape, indicating plastic behavior.
4. The restoring force is fundamental in various mechanical systems such as springs, where it
provides the necessary counteracting force for oscillations, vibrations, and shock absorption in
vehicles and machinery.
5. The strength of the restoring force depends on the material’s elastic constants, like Young’s
modulus. Materials with higher moduli develop greater restoring forces for the same deformation,
making them stiffer and more resistant to changes in shape or size.
3. Elastic and Plastic Body
1. An elastic body is one that regains its original shape and size when the deforming force is
removed. Common examples include rubber bands and steel wires (within limits). Elastic behavior
occurs due to the rearrangement of molecules under force and their return when the force ceases.
2. A plastic body, on the other hand, does not return to its original dimensions after deformation.
Once the deforming force exceeds a certain limit (elastic limit), the deformation becomes
permanent. Clay, lead, and wax are examples of materials exhibiting plastic behavior.
3. The difference between elastic and plastic bodies lies in their molecular interactions. In elastic
materials, the intermolecular forces act as restoring forces, while in plastic materials, the molecular
structure rearranges permanently under stress.
4. No material is perfectly elastic; even steel shows slight permanent deformation under very high
stress. Perfect elasticity is an ideal concept used for simplifying physical analysis and theoretical
derivations.
5. Understanding elastic and plastic behavior is vital in engineering to determine whether a material
will return to its original state after load removal or undergo permanent changes, affecting the safety
and functionality of structures and machines.
4. Stress and Strain (with types)
1. Stress is the internal restoring force per unit area developed within a material when subjected to
a deforming force. It is given by the formula: Stress = Force / Area. Its SI unit is Pascal (Pa) or
N/m².
2. Strain is the ratio of the change in dimension to the original dimension of a body under stress. It
is a dimensionless quantity, representing the extent of deformation produced by stress. Strain =
Change in dimension / Original dimension.
3. Types of stress include tensile stress (stretching), compressive stress (squeezing), and shearing
stress (sliding layers). Each type causes a specific deformation depending on the applied force’s
direction and nature.
4. Types of strain include longitudinal strain (due to tensile or compressive stress), volumetric strain
(due to change in volume under uniform pressure), and shear strain (due to angular deformation).
5. Stress and strain are directly proportional within the elastic limit, as per Hooke’s law.
Understanding their relationship helps engineers determine how much load a material can safely
bear without permanent deformation or failure.