modulus of elasticity

noun

, Physics.

1. any of several coefficients of elasticity of a body, expressing the ratio between a stress or force per unit area that acts to deform the body and the corresponding fractional deformation caused by the stress.

modulus of elasticity

noun

1. the ratio of the stress applied to a body or substance to the resulting strain within the elastic limit Also calledelastic modulus See also Young's modulus bulk modulus modulus of rigidity

modulus of elasticity

1. The ratio of the stress applied to a body to the strain that results in the body in response to it. The modulus of elasticity of a material is a measure of its stiffness and for most materials remains constant over a range of stress.
2. ◆ The ratio of the longitudinal strain to the longitudinal stress is called Young's modulus.
3. ◆ The ratio of the stress on the body to the body's fractional decrease in volume is the bulk modulus.
4. ◆ The ratio of the tangential force per unit area to the angular deformation in radians is the shear modulus.
5. See also Hooke's law

Word History and Origins

Origin of modulus of elasticity¹

First recorded in 1800–10