modulus of elasticity

noun, Physics.

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.

Also called coefficient of elasticity, elastic modulus.

Origin

1800-10

British Dictionary definitions for modulus of elasticity

modulus of elasticity

noun

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

modulus of elasticity in Science

modulus of elasticity
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. ◇ The ratio of the longitudinal strain to the longitudinal stress is called Young's modulus. ◇ The ratio of the stress on the body to the body's fractional decrease in volume is the bulk modulus. ◇ The ratio of the tangential force per unit area to the angular deformation in radians is the shear modulus. See also Hooke's law.