Elasticity

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Changing shapes
Forces can make objects change their speed or their
direction when they are in motion. They can also make
objects change shape.

Stretching forces can change the shape of

objects, making them longer and thinner.

Compression forces
can squash objects,
making them smaller.

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Elastic or plastic?
In physics, materials are described as having either elastic
or plastic properties. Most materials display both
properties, depending on how much they are deformed.

Plastic materials change shape

permanently when they are
deformed by an external force.

Elastic materials return to

their original shape once
the external force is removed.

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Elastic potential energy
A stretched or compressed material,
like the spring in a jack-in-the-box when
the lid is closed, has elastic potential
energy (EPE) stored in it.

EPE is the energy stored in a body

due to a load causing a deformation.

According to the law of conservation of energy,

no energy is created or destroyed when a spring
is compressed. Therefore the work done in compressing
the spring is equal to the EPE stored in it, plus any
energy released as heat and sound.

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Slingshot science

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Investigating springs

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Results
plastic region
force (N) break point
limit of
proportionality

elastic limit
elastic region

extension (cm)

If a spring is stretched far enough, it reaches the limit of

proportionality and then the elastic limit.
The elastic limit is a point beyond which the spring will no
longer return to its original shape when the force is removed.

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Hooke’s law
The limit of proportionality is a point beyond which behaviour
of an elastic material no longer conforms to Hooke’s law:

The extension of a spring is directly

proportional to the force applied, provided
its limit of proportionality is not exceeded.

F e or F = ke where k is a constant.

original length x
F

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Elasticity calculations

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Glossary

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Anagrams

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Multiple-choice quiz

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