Elastic

:For other uses, see elasticity (economics) or rubber band.

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In solid mechanics, the adjective elastic characterises both collisions between, and deformations of, physical objects.

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A collision is perfectly elastic if the total kinetic energy of the colliding objects is conserved as kinetic energy (overall energy is conserved in all collisions, whether elastic or not). No macroscopic collisions are truly elastic, although some come close. A frequent cause of highly inelastic collisions occurs when one or more of the objects suffers a plastic deformation.

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The deformation of a solid is part of the study of solid mechanics. In solid mechanics, a material is elastic if it changes shape due to an applied load, but that when the load is removed, recovers its original shape. Further, the deformation of an elastic material is related to the applied load, see also deflection.

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The elasticity of a solid is inversely proportional to the strength of the material. If the material is isotropic, its strength is characterized by the modulus of elasticity. Furthermore, if the material is isotropic, and a force is applied in one direction, the deformation in the other directions is governed by Poisson's ratio.

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The word elastomer refers to a material which is very elastic, like rubber. The word elastic is often used colloquially to refer to an elastomeric material such as rubber or cloth/rubber combinations.

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Elasticity (economics): In economics, elasticity is the ratio of the incremental percentage change in one variable with respect to an incremental percentage change in another variable. Elasticity is usually expressed as a positive number (i.e., an absolute value) when the sign is already clear from context....

Rubber band: A rubber band (in some regions known as a binder, elastic or lacky band (Aus.) ) is a short length of rubber formed in the shape of a loop. Such bands are typically used to hold objects together. The rubber band was invented in England on March 17, 1845 by Stephen Perry....

Solid mechanics: Solid mechanics (also known as the theory of elasticity) is a branch of physics, which governs the response of solid material to applied stress (e.g., external forces). It is part of a broader study known as continuum mechanics....