MATERIALS THAT CAN BE STRETCHED AND STILL RETURN TO THEIR ORIGINAL FORMS WHEN THE STRESSES ARE REMOVED ARE SAID TO BE

• A. elastic ✓
• B. elastomer
• C. plastic
• D. thermoplastic

When materials can be stretched and still return to their original form when the stresses are removed, they are said to be elastic. Elasticity is the property of a material that allows it to deform under stress and return to its original shape once the stress is removed. This ability to recover its initial shape distinguishes elastic materials from plastic materials, which deform permanently under stress.

Elastic materials store potential energy when they are deformed, and this energy is released as they return to their original shape. This behavior is described by Hooke’s Law, which states that the force needed to deform an elastic material is directly proportional to the amount of deformation produced.

Examples of elastic materials include rubber bands, springs, and certain types of polymers like elastomers. Elastomers are a specific type of elastic material known for their high elasticity and resilience.

In contrast, plastic materials deform irreversibly under stress, meaning they do not return to their original shape once the stress is removed. Thermoplastics, on the other hand, can be heated and molded into different shapes but retain their elastic properties upon cooling.