Sort
Profile photo for Gopalkrishna Vishwanath

Elasticity is defined as the property by virtue of which a material is able to stretch when a force is applied and is able to get back to its original state when the force is removed.

The greater the range of force that can be applied to a material and yet retain this ability to get back to normal, the more elastic the material. The greater the force that needs to be applied to cause this stretching, the more the modulus of elasticity of the material (modulus means ‘measure’).

A rubber band is not really very ‘elastic’. It is merely more stretchable. It cannot retain this property of regaining i

Elasticity is defined as the property by virtue of which a material is able to stretch when a force is applied and is able to get back to its original state when the force is removed.

The greater the range of force that can be applied to a material and yet retain this ability to get back to normal, the more elastic the material. The greater the force that needs to be applied to cause this stretching, the more the modulus of elasticity of the material (modulus means ‘measure’).

A rubber band is not really very ‘elastic’. It is merely more stretchable. It cannot retain this property of regaining its original shape over the same range of force that a steel wire can. It merely stretches more than the steel wire. It is therefore not more elastic. It is merely more deformable.

Let’s consider an example:

The same pull exerted on a rubber band will stretch it more than it stretches a steel wire, where the stretching will be practically imperceptible.

But the steel wire will remain stretchable for a much higher force.

A rubber band will stretch easily for a small force that you apply with your fingers. But if you pull more and more, it simply snaps.

But the steel wire will be so strong that you will not be able to break it by pulling it with your hands.

The rubber band may stretch by about an inch before it snaps.

The steel wire will stretch only by a small fraction of a millimeter for the force you apply with your fingers.

If you suspend a heavy weight (say 10 kg) using this wire, it will survive. It will stretch by perhaps a fraction of a millimeter. When you remove the 10 kg weight, the steel wire will regain its original length.

If you then suspend a weight of 20 kg, the wire will still sustain it, and it will stretch twice as much. If you remove the 20 kg load, the wire will still be back to normal.

You can continue this, and depending on the size (diameter) of the steel wire, the upper limit may be several hundred pounds.

But if you repeat the experiment with a rubber band of the same size (diameter) as the wire, you will find that the initial 1 pound load will stretch it by several inches (not a fraction of a millimeter), and any further increase will deform it permanently or even break it. When the load is removed, the rubber band will not regain its original shape. So it is a lot less elastic than steel.

The key is in understanding the technical definition of ‘elastic’.

It should not be confused with the amount of stretching.

Once you understand this and interpret it as the range of force where it remains stretchable (however small the amount of stretching) , or the magnitude of the force that you need to apply to cause a predefined amount of stretching, you will understand why steel is always more elastic than rubber.

The confusion in the minds of non-engineers is due to the difference in meaning of elasticity when used by engineers and when used by non-technical people.

GV

Profile photo for Jörg

Many answers already here, and I am sure most are technically very correct.

I am no engineer and my background is biz admin, so don’t expect anything scientific from me.

But I have worked with rubber in extreme ways for the last 10 years. My biggest rubber based launcher was 14 meters long, 10 meters high and required the power of at least three men to winch cock the beast. It used bowling balls as

Many answers already here, and I am sure most are technically very correct.

I am no engineer and my background is biz admin, so don’t expect anything scientific from me.

But I have worked with rubber in extreme ways for the last 10 years. My biggest rubber based launcher was 14 meters long, 10 meters high and required the power of at least three men to winch cock the beast. It used bowling balls as ammo.

I have also worked with steel, for example by making a bow from four thoroughly hardened machetes.

The behavior of (vulcanized) rubber and (hardened) steel can’t really be compared as the way how the energy is stored is entirely different.

Both rubber AND steel will of course endure only so much flexing, then they break. But rubber can be stretched to about 7 times the relaxed length without (immediately) breaking, much,much more than steel.

Also the efficiency of the stretch is much higher in rubber.

But rubber has the great disadvantage that it loses draw force quickly, “tires out”, in laymen’s terms. A crossbow made from rubber bands needs to fired quickly. If you keep it cocked for longer than a minute or two, the shot will be much weaker already. A steel bow can be kept in cocked condition for a very long time without losing much energy,

Why is that?

(Hardened) Steel stores energy by means of mechanical potential, whereas rubber uses thermal energy for this purpose.

Rubber consists of very long molecule chains, so called “polymeres”. In a relaxed piece of rubber, these chains are chaotic, curled up. Much like a heap of spaghetti. If you stretch the piece, the polymeres will align nicely - order from chaos.

If you stretch out a rubber band, it gets warm. Up to 15 centigrade, in fact. You can easily test this by feeling the temps of relaxed and stretched out office rubber against your upper lip. If you release the tension it cools down immediately. If you keep it stretched ou...

Profile photo for Johnny M

I once met a man who drove a modest Toyota Corolla, wore beat-up sneakers, and looked like he’d lived the same way for decades. But what really caught my attention was when he casually mentioned he was retired at 45 with more money than he could ever spend. I couldn’t help but ask, “How did you do it?”

He smiled and said, “The secret to saving money is knowing where to look for the waste—and car insurance is one of the easiest places to start.”

He then walked me through a few strategies that I’d never thought of before. Here’s what I learned:

1. Make insurance companies fight for your business

Mos

I once met a man who drove a modest Toyota Corolla, wore beat-up sneakers, and looked like he’d lived the same way for decades. But what really caught my attention was when he casually mentioned he was retired at 45 with more money than he could ever spend. I couldn’t help but ask, “How did you do it?”

He smiled and said, “The secret to saving money is knowing where to look for the waste—and car insurance is one of the easiest places to start.”

He then walked me through a few strategies that I’d never thought of before. Here’s what I learned:

1. Make insurance companies fight for your business

Most people just stick with the same insurer year after year, but that’s what the companies are counting on. This guy used tools like Coverage.com to compare rates every time his policy came up for renewal. It only took him a few minutes, and he said he’d saved hundreds each year by letting insurers compete for his business.

Click here to try Coverage.com and see how much you could save today.

2. Take advantage of safe driver programs

He mentioned that some companies reward good drivers with significant discounts. By signing up for a program that tracked his driving habits for just a month, he qualified for a lower rate. “It’s like a test where you already know the answers,” he joked.

You can find a list of insurance companies offering safe driver discounts here and start saving on your next policy.

3. Bundle your policies

He bundled his auto insurance with his home insurance and saved big. “Most companies will give you a discount if you combine your policies with them. It’s easy money,” he explained. If you haven’t bundled yet, ask your insurer what discounts they offer—or look for new ones that do.

4. Drop coverage you don’t need

He also emphasized reassessing coverage every year. If your car isn’t worth much anymore, it might be time to drop collision or comprehensive coverage. “You shouldn’t be paying more to insure the car than it’s worth,” he said.

5. Look for hidden fees or overpriced add-ons

One of his final tips was to avoid extras like roadside assistance, which can often be purchased elsewhere for less. “It’s those little fees you don’t think about that add up,” he warned.

The Secret? Stop Overpaying

The real “secret” isn’t about cutting corners—it’s about being proactive. Car insurance companies are counting on you to stay complacent, but with tools like Coverage.com and a little effort, you can make sure you’re only paying for what you need—and saving hundreds in the process.

If you’re ready to start saving, take a moment to:

Saving money on auto insurance doesn’t have to be complicated—you just have to know where to look. If you'd like to support my work, feel free to use the links in this post—they help me continue creating valuable content.

Profile photo for Assistant
Assistant

Steel is not more elastic than rubber; in fact, rubber is generally more elastic than steel. Elasticity refers to the ability of a material to deform under stress and return to its original shape when the stress is removed.

Key Differences:

  1. Elastic Modulus:
    -
    Steel: Steel has a high elastic modulus (Young's modulus), which means it requires a significant amount of stress to produce a small amount of strain (deformation). While it is strong and can withstand a lot of force, it does not stretch much before returning to its original shape.
    -
    Rubber: Rubber has a low elastic modulus, allowing

Steel is not more elastic than rubber; in fact, rubber is generally more elastic than steel. Elasticity refers to the ability of a material to deform under stress and return to its original shape when the stress is removed.

Key Differences:

  1. Elastic Modulus:
    -
    Steel: Steel has a high elastic modulus (Young's modulus), which means it requires a significant amount of stress to produce a small amount of strain (deformation). While it is strong and can withstand a lot of force, it does not stretch much before returning to its original shape.
    -
    Rubber: Rubber has a low elastic modulus, allowing it to stretch significantly under stress. It can deform extensively and still return to its original shape when the stress is removed.
  2. Deformation Behavior:
    -
    Steel: When steel is deformed, it primarily undergoes elastic deformation up to its yield point. Beyond that, it can undergo plastic deformation, where it does not return to its original shape.
    -
    Rubber: Rubber can undergo large elastic deformations. It can stretch many times its original length and still return to that length when the force is removed.
  3. Material Structure:
    -
    Steel: Steel is a crystalline material, and its atomic structure contributes to its strength and rigidity but limits its ability to stretch.
    -
    Rubber: Rubber is an amorphous polymer, which allows its molecular chains to slide past each other easily, enabling significant deformation.

Conclusion:

In summary, rubber is more elastic than steel due to its lower elastic modulus and ability to undergo large deformations while returning to its original shape. Steel, on the other hand, is stronger and stiffer but less capable of significant elastic deformation.

Profile photo for Rituraj Verma

As soon as we listen the word elastic,the image our mind creates is like:

If we ask this question to a kindergarten child, he will die of laughing,thinking that how steel can be more elastic than rubber! Not only that child but if we people in our childhood also had been asked the same question, we would have reacted the same(thinking that had steel been more elastic than rubber why aren’t we using steel hair bands or steel wrist bands instead of rubber ones ).

All I want to say that literal meaning of elasticity is misinterpreted all this time.

Actual definition of Elasticity:

The greater the res

As soon as we listen the word elastic,the image our mind creates is like:

If we ask this question to a kindergarten child, he will die of laughing,thinking that how steel can be more elastic than rubber! Not only that child but if we people in our childhood also had been asked the same question, we would have reacted the same(thinking that had steel been more elastic than rubber why aren’t we using steel hair bands or steel wrist bands instead of rubber ones ).

All I want to say that literal meaning of elasticity is misinterpreted all this time.

Actual definition of Elasticity:

The greater the resistance to change, the greater is the elasticity of the material and the faster it comes back to its original shape or configuration when the deforming force is removed. If this definition is followed then definitely steel will win the race of elasticity.

This confusion often occurs due to one prominent reason: the steel reaches elastic deformation "earlier" and it is intuitive to see that steel is "more prone" to fracture than rubber.

This can also be understood by simply applying your physics mind:
Just put some stress on your mind and start recalling the formula of elasticity ,you mugged up during exam nights. If u can’t, i may help you.

(Elasticity=stress/strain)

In words, Elasticity is measured as ratio of stress to strain. For a given stress (stretching force per unit area) strain is much smaller in steel than in rubber and hence the answer.
Expecting you can explain the kids and not become a laughing stock.

Thanks for the A2A .

Profile photo for Chaitanya Vaishampayan

There is a general misconception when we talk about elasticity. Most of the people think that those materials which can be stretched more are more elastic. But the truth is that elasticity is not the measure of how much the material can get stretched but instead it is the measure of how much the material resists stretching. Those materials for which large amount of stress causes less amount of strain are more elastic. Stress means the pressure we apply and strain is the change in length(or other dimensions) of the material. When iron and rubber are subjected to some stress(pressure) then rubbe

There is a general misconception when we talk about elasticity. Most of the people think that those materials which can be stretched more are more elastic. But the truth is that elasticity is not the measure of how much the material can get stretched but instead it is the measure of how much the material resists stretching. Those materials for which large amount of stress causes less amount of strain are more elastic. Stress means the pressure we apply and strain is the change in length(or other dimensions) of the material. When iron and rubber are subjected to some stress(pressure) then rubber can be stretched easily but iron cannot. Hence iron is more elastic than rubber.

Investors with $1 million or more, read our latest fact-based forecast for essential insights.
Profile photo for Civil Engicon

Steel is more elastic than rubber due to its unique properties and composition. Elasticity is a measure of ability of a material to return to its original shape after being stretched or deformed.

Firstly, steel is a metallic material that is composed mainly of iron and small amounts of carbon. Rubber, on the other hand, is a polymer material made up of long chains of repeating chemical units. The chemical makeup of steel and rubber is fundamentally different, which affects their elastic properties.

Secondly, steel has a higher modulus of elasticity, which is a measure of a material's resistance

Steel is more elastic than rubber due to its unique properties and composition. Elasticity is a measure of ability of a material to return to its original shape after being stretched or deformed.

Firstly, steel is a metallic material that is composed mainly of iron and small amounts of carbon. Rubber, on the other hand, is a polymer material made up of long chains of repeating chemical units. The chemical makeup of steel and rubber is fundamentally different, which affects their elastic properties.

Secondly, steel has a higher modulus of elasticity, which is a measure of a material's resistance to elastic deformation. The modulus of elasticity for steel is typically around 30 million psi (pounds per square inch), while the modulus of elasticity for rubber is around 2-5 million psi. This means that steel can withstand a greater amount of stress before becoming permanently deformed.

Additionally, steel has a higher tensile strength, which is a measure of a material's ability to withstand an applied force without breaking. The tensile strength of steel is typically around 60,000 psi, while the tensile strength of rubber is around 1,000-3,000 psi. This means that steel can withstand a greater amount of force before breaking.

Lastly, steel has a low coefficient of thermal expansion, meaning that it does not expand or contract much when exposed to changes in temperature. On the other hand, rubber has a high coefficient of thermal expansion, meaning that it expands and contracts quite significantly when exposed to changes in temperature, thus making it less elastic than steel.

In conclusion, steel is more elastic than rubber due to its metallic composition, higher modulus of elasticity, higher tensile strength, and low coefficient of thermal expansion.

Profile photo for Quora User

This is one of the most common question among student. everyone thinks that rubber is more elastic than any thing else, because elastic is a synonym for rubber in day to day life, but in physics it is different. elasticity as a property is measured by young’s modulus(Y) the greater the value of ‘Y’ the material is more elastic.

Y=Stress/strain

here stress is proportional to applied force and strain is proportional to elongation of specimen.

now take two identical rods of steel and rubber and apply equal forces on their ends, now measure the elongation in them, obviously the elongation in rubber r

This is one of the most common question among student. everyone thinks that rubber is more elastic than any thing else, because elastic is a synonym for rubber in day to day life, but in physics it is different. elasticity as a property is measured by young’s modulus(Y) the greater the value of ‘Y’ the material is more elastic.

Y=Stress/strain

here stress is proportional to applied force and strain is proportional to elongation of specimen.

now take two identical rods of steel and rubber and apply equal forces on their ends, now measure the elongation in them, obviously the elongation in rubber rod is much greater than that of steel rod. so the value of Y for Steel gets much larger than that for rubber, and so steel is more elastic than rubber.

the value of Y for steel is in range of 200 GPa

while for rubber it is very 0.01–0.1 GPa

Where do I start?

I’m a huge financial nerd, and have spent an embarrassing amount of time talking to people about their money habits.

Here are the biggest mistakes people are making and how to fix them:

Not having a separate high interest savings account

Having a separate account allows you to see the results of all your hard work and keep your money separate so you're less tempted to spend it.

Plus with rates above 5.00%, the interest you can earn compared to most banks really adds up.

Here is a list of the top savings accounts available today. Deposit $5 before moving on because this is one of th

Where do I start?

I’m a huge financial nerd, and have spent an embarrassing amount of time talking to people about their money habits.

Here are the biggest mistakes people are making and how to fix them:

Not having a separate high interest savings account

Having a separate account allows you to see the results of all your hard work and keep your money separate so you're less tempted to spend it.

Plus with rates above 5.00%, the interest you can earn compared to most banks really adds up.

Here is a list of the top savings accounts available today. Deposit $5 before moving on because this is one of the biggest mistakes and easiest ones to fix.

Overpaying on car insurance

You’ve heard it a million times before, but the average American family still overspends by $417/year on car insurance.

If you’ve been with the same insurer for years, chances are you are one of them.

Pull up Coverage.com, a free site that will compare prices for you, answer the questions on the page, and it will show you how much you could be saving.

That’s it. You’ll likely be saving a bunch of money. Here’s a link to give it a try.

Consistently being in debt

If you’ve got $10K+ in debt (credit cards…medical bills…anything really) you could use a debt relief program and potentially reduce by over 20%.

Here’s how to see if you qualify:

Head over to this Debt Relief comparison website here, then simply answer the questions to see if you qualify.

It’s as simple as that. You’ll likely end up paying less than you owed before and you could be debt free in as little as 2 years.

Missing out on free money to invest

It’s no secret that millionaires love investing, but for the rest of us, it can seem out of reach.

Times have changed. There are a number of investing platforms that will give you a bonus to open an account and get started. All you have to do is open the account and invest at least $25, and you could get up to $1000 in bonus.

Pretty sweet deal right? Here is a link to some of the best options.

Having bad credit

A low credit score can come back to bite you in so many ways in the future.

From that next rental application to getting approved for any type of loan or credit card, if you have a bad history with credit, the good news is you can fix it.

Head over to BankRate.com and answer a few questions to see if you qualify. It only takes a few minutes and could save you from a major upset down the line.

How to get started

Hope this helps! Here are the links to get started:

Have a separate savings account
Stop overpaying for car insurance
Finally get out of debt
Start investing with a free bonus
Fix your credit

Profile photo for Oliver William

Iron Or Rubber, Which Is More Elastic?

1. Which is more elastic iron or rubber?

In order to answer this question defining elastic or elasticity is essential. Elasticity refers to the property of a body by virtue of which the body regains its original configuration when external deforming forces are removed. That is a body is said to be elastic if it is capable of regaining its original configuration after the deforming forces are removed. A perfectly elastic body do not exists and is an ideal case. However, quartz can be taken as an example for nearly perfectly elastic body. Quartz is a piezoele

Iron Or Rubber, Which Is More Elastic?

1. Which is more elastic iron or rubber?

In order to answer this question defining elastic or elasticity is essential. Elasticity refers to the property of a body by virtue of which the body regains its original configuration when external deforming forces are removed. That is a body is said to be elastic if it is capable of regaining its original configuration after the deforming forces are removed. A perfectly elastic body do not exists and is an ideal case. However, quartz can be taken as an example for nearly perfectly elastic body. Quartz is a piezoelectric material that is converts pressure into electricity.

Now, back to the question which is more elastic iron or rubber? To find out the answer consider the case of applying a deforming force to a rubber band and an iron rod say pulling the rubber band and iron rod from two ends. On removing the deforming force which one will regain its original form more better than than the other? Think about it for a moment.

Yes, the iron rod will regain its original form when compared to the rubber band. On increasing the magnitude of the deforming force that is on pulling harder the rubber band may even break but the iron rod won't. This experiment clearly shows that iron rod is more elastic.

2. What is plasticity?

Since the iron rod regains its original configuration more efficiently than rubber it is iron which is more elastic than rubber. However commonly everybody says rubber is more elastic than iron which is not true. They says so because the term elastic doesn't mean the same as the term 'elastic' used in this article.

When common people says that rubber is more 'elastic' they are talking about plasticity. Now what is plasticity? Plasticity refers to the property of a body, by virtue of which it is not able regain its original configuration after the external deforming forces are removed. A perfectly plastic body is also an ideal case.

  • Why is steel more elastic than rubber?

Hello everyone!

How are you? I hope you all well.

Let's learn today about,

"

Why is Steel more elastic than Rubber?"

According to Hook's law, under elastic limit stress is directly proportional to strain.

as,

stress ∝ strain ﹦ σ ∝

Now on eliminating proportionality constant we get,

﹦ E

where

E ﹦Young's Modulus or Modulus of Elasticity.

Young's ModulusIt is the ratio of longitudinal stress to the longitudinal strain.

Thus, E ﹦ ∣ and also, E∝ 1∣.

Note:- If the value of modulus of elasticity of the body is greater, then the body will more elastic and vice versa.

STEEL

Fu

  • Why is steel more elastic than rubber?

Hello everyone!

How are you? I hope you all well.

Let's learn today about,

"

Why is Steel more elastic than Rubber?"

According to Hook's law, under elastic limit stress is directly proportional to strain.

as,

stress ∝ strain ﹦ σ ∝

Now on eliminating proportionality constant we get,

﹦ E

where

E ﹦Young's Modulus or Modulus of Elasticity.

Young's ModulusIt is the ratio of longitudinal stress to the longitudinal strain.

Thus, E ﹦ ∣ and also, E∝ 1∣.

Note:- If the value of modulus of elasticity of the body is greater, then the body will more elastic and vice versa.

STEEL

Further,

Young's modulus of Steel is 200 GPa and that of Rubber is 10 GPa.

Obviously, the interatomic force of attraction in rubber is less and that of steel has a more interatomic force of attraction.

RUBBER

So, from the above discussion, it is clear that Steel is more elastic than Rubber.

PROOF-

Let us consider that there are two strings, one of Steel and another of Rubber of the same length and have same cross-section area.

l

s→

length of a steel string, l

r→

length of rubber string

and of the same magnitude, a force is acting on both strings in the form of tension.

Now, after that elongation will occur in both strings.

so,

Δl

r

→elongation in rubber

and

Δl

s

→elongation in steel

clearly,

Δl

r

Δl

s

Δl

r

Δl

s

1 ....(1)

Now, Young's Modulus of Steel and rubber are:

E

steel

F

l

s

A

Δl

s

❵,

E

rubber

F

l

r

A

Δl

r

E

steel

E

rubber

Δl

r

Δl

s❵...(2)

so,

E

steel

E

rubber

Hence, proved.

THANKS!

source: Knowledge Zone 4U

Discover instant and clever code completion, on-the-fly code analysis, and reliable refactoring tools.
Profile photo for Zuhaib Ayaz

Steel is more elastic than rubber as

Elasticity is the property of the material of the body by virtue of which the body opposes any change in its size or shape caused by an external force. Clearly, greater is the force required to produce a given change in size or shape of body, the more elastic body is said to be. If we take steel and rubber wires of equal length and area of cross-section , a large force would have to be applied to the steel wire in order to produce equal extensions in their lengths.

Suppose , two wires is same length L and same radius r , one of steel and the other of rubber ,

Steel is more elastic than rubber as

Elasticity is the property of the material of the body by virtue of which the body opposes any change in its size or shape caused by an external force. Clearly, greater is the force required to produce a given change in size or shape of body, the more elastic body is said to be. If we take steel and rubber wires of equal length and area of cross-section , a large force would have to be applied to the steel wire in order to produce equal extensions in their lengths.

Suppose , two wires is same length L and same radius r , one of steel and the other of rubber , are suspended from a rigid support. Suppose , on applying equal weights Mg, Mg to the lower ends , there length increase by ∆Ls and ∆Lr respectively. If Ys and Ye are the Young's moduli of steel and rubber respectively,then

Ya =MgL /πr² ∆Ls , and

Ye=MgL/πr²∆Lr

Therefore ,

Ys/Yr = ∆Lr/∆Ls

Experimentally, ∆Lr >∆Ls. Therefore

Ys > Ye

Thus , steel is more elastic than rubber.

Profile photo for Nikunj Agarwal

I am thinking of some basic technique …….(I might be wrong but I don’t know much so please try to rectify me if I am wrong)…….

We know,

Y=Stress/Strain

Y=(F/A)/(dl/L)

Y=FL/Adl

If we consider that we have taken two rods equal in dimensions that is with equal length and equal area of cross section and apply a force of equal magnitude , then

  • Y=k/dl, because F,L and A becomes constant

Y becomes inversely proportional to dl

Since we all know that the elongation of steel is much less as compared to rubber by applying the same force so Y of steel is higher than that compared to rubber

Hence the elasticity of

I am thinking of some basic technique …….(I might be wrong but I don’t know much so please try to rectify me if I am wrong)…….

We know,

Y=Stress/Strain

Y=(F/A)/(dl/L)

Y=FL/Adl

If we consider that we have taken two rods equal in dimensions that is with equal length and equal area of cross section and apply a force of equal magnitude , then

  • Y=k/dl, because F,L and A becomes constant

Y becomes inversely proportional to dl

Since we all know that the elongation of steel is much less as compared to rubber by applying the same force so Y of steel is higher than that compared to rubber

Hence the elasticity of steel is greater than that of rubber due to a higher modulus of elasticity value.

Elasticity is the capability of an object to return to its former shape once a load inducing strain is removed. If you were to drop a steel ball on a very hard surface, it would probably bounce higher than than rubber. If you drop it on a softer surface, because it would deform less, then the surface it is to bounce off will be the one deforming, so the bounce would be a function of the elasticity of the floor, not of the ball.

A strand of silk is indeed stronger than a steel wire of the same diameter. The reason is that metal uses metallic bounds which is not as strong as the covalent bounds

Elasticity is the capability of an object to return to its former shape once a load inducing strain is removed. If you were to drop a steel ball on a very hard surface, it would probably bounce higher than than rubber. If you drop it on a softer surface, because it would deform less, then the surface it is to bounce off will be the one deforming, so the bounce would be a function of the elasticity of the floor, not of the ball.

A strand of silk is indeed stronger than a steel wire of the same diameter. The reason is that metal uses metallic bounds which is not as strong as the covalent bounds in a macro-molecule like the ones in silk. This also explains why Kevlar, carbon fiber, and carbon nanotubes are also stronger than steel.

Youngs Modulus of steel is more than youngs modulus of rubber.

Profile photo for Md Saju

Ancient rubber

The ancient Mayan People used latex to make rubber balls, hollow human figures, and as bindings used to secure axe heads to there handles and other functions. Latex is the sap of various plants, most notably the rubber tree. When it is exposed to the air it hardens into a springy mass. The Mayans learned to mix the rubber sap with the juice from morning glory vines so that it became more durable and elastic, and didn't get quite as brittle. Both the rubber tree and the morning glory were important plants to the Mayan people - the latter being a hallucinogen as well as a healing h

Ancient rubber

The ancient Mayan People used latex to make rubber balls, hollow human figures, and as bindings used to secure axe heads to there handles and other functions. Latex is the sap of various plants, most notably the rubber tree. When it is exposed to the air it hardens into a springy mass. The Mayans learned to mix the rubber sap with the juice from morning glory vines so that it became more durable and elastic, and didn't get quite as brittle. Both the rubber tree and the morning glory were important plants to the Mayan people - the latter being a hallucinogen as well as a healing herb. They two plants tended to grow close together. Combining their juices, a black substance about the texture of a gum-type pencil eraser was formed. Native peoples in the region still make rubber in the same way.Vulcanized rubber

In 1736 several rolled sheets of rubber were sent to France where it fascinated those who saw it. In 1791, an Englishman named Samuel Peal discovered a means of waterproofing cloth by mixing rubber with turpentine. English inventor and scientist, Joseph Priestly, got his hands on some rubber and realized it could be used to erase pencil marks on sheets of paper.

Thomas Hancock was an English inventor who founded the British rubber industry. He invented the masticator, a machine that shredded rubber scraps, allowing rubber to be recycled after being formed into blocks or rolled into sheets. In 1820, Hancock patented elastic fastenings for gloves, suspenders, shoes and stockings. In the process of creating the first elastic fabrics, Hancock found himself wasting considerable rubber. He invented the masticator to help conserve rubber. The first masticator was a wooden machine that used a hollow cylinder studded with teeth - inside the cylinder was a studded core that was hand cranked. In 1821, Hancock joined forces with the Scottish chemist and inventor of waterproof fabrics, Charles Macintosh. Together they produced Macintosh coats, or Mackintoshes, named after Charles Macintosh.

In 1823, Charles Macintosh patented a method for making waterproof garments by using rubber dissolved in coal-tar naphtha for cementing two pieces of cloth together. While he was trying to find uses for the waste products of gasworks, Macintosh discovered that coal-tar naphtha dissolved India rubber. He took wool cloth and painted one side with the dissolved rubber preparation and placed another layer of wool cloth on top.

In 1837, Hancock finally patented the masticator, when Macintosh's waterproofing patent was being challenged. In the pre-Goodyear and pre-vulcanization age of rubber age, the masticated rubber that Hancock invented was used for pneumatic cushions, mattresses, pillows and bellows, hose, tubing, solid tires, shoes, packing and springs. It was used everywhere. Hancock became the largest manufacturer of rubber goods in the world. The wooden masticator turned into a steam-driven metal machine, used to supple the Macintosh factory with masticated rubber.

Profile photo for Cyrus Frank

Steel more elastic than rubber:- Elasticity is the capability of an object to return to its former shape once a load inducing strain is removed.

If you were to drop a steel ball on a very hard surface, it would probably bounce higher than than rubber. If you drop it on a softer surface, because it would deform less, then the surface it is to bounce off will be the one deforming, so the bounce would be a function of the elasticity of the floor, not of the ball.

I hope my suggestions help you for more related information visit Oshwin Overseas

Steel more elastic than rubber:- Elasticity is the capability of an object to return to its former shape once a load inducing strain is removed.

If you were to drop a steel ball on a very hard surface, it would probably bounce higher than than rubber. If you drop it on a softer surface, because it would deform less, then the surface it is to bounce off will be the one deforming, so the bounce would be a function of the elasticity of the floor, not of the ball.

I hope my suggestions help you for more related information visit Oshwin Overseas

Profile photo for Dr. Shishobhan Sharma

Elasticity tells you how recoverable the material is. It is the ration of the stress over strain hence any materials which can take up a high magnitude of stress will be more elastic than the once which takes lower stress.

See steel is stronger than the rubber hence its load bearing ability is way better than the rubber, moreover, the rubber will stretch more under less load. hence the over all value of elasticity is reduced. Refer to the below diagram I drew, might help.

I hope this helped,

Thanks for A2A

Elasticity tells you how recoverable the material is. It is the ration of the stress over strain hence any materials which can take up a high magnitude of stress will be more elastic than the once which takes lower stress.

See steel is stronger than the rubber hence its load bearing ability is way better than the rubber, moreover, the rubber will stretch more under less load. hence the over all value of elasticity is reduced. Refer to the below diagram I drew, might help.

I hope this helped,

Thanks for A2A

Profile photo for Siddharth Jain

Elasticity is the ratio of stress and strain i.e. The amount of force applied to a specimen divided by the change in length of the specimen, and this ratio is called the modulus of Elasticity. one reason is simple that modulus of Elasticity of steel is greater than modulus of Elasticity of rubber, but what it really means is steel can under go a particular amount of stress and have a particular amount of strain due to that stress, but when the stress is removed the steel specimen regains its original shape. So Elasticity can be simply defined as how much stress a specimen can undergo being in

Elasticity is the ratio of stress and strain i.e. The amount of force applied to a specimen divided by the change in length of the specimen, and this ratio is called the modulus of Elasticity. one reason is simple that modulus of Elasticity of steel is greater than modulus of Elasticity of rubber, but what it really means is steel can under go a particular amount of stress and have a particular amount of strain due to that stress, but when the stress is removed the steel specimen regains its original shape. So Elasticity can be simply defined as how much stress a specimen can undergo being in the elastic limit i.e. Without getting plastic or without rupturing. So now u can simply say that as steel can undergo more stresses and strain and steel be in the elastic limit and regain its shape when the stresses are removed, while in case of a rubber sample as more stress is applied first of all the ratio od stress and strain i.e. The young’s modulus is less and secondly it will rupture before reaching comparable values of stress and strain of steel. Please refer the stress strain diagram for a better understanding of elastic limit and fracture point. Feel free to correct me if im wrong, thank you

Profile photo for Michael Fraylich

Elasticity is the property of a material to return to its original state after straining. Steel has a higher elastic modulus (Young’s modulus) than rubber meaning you can apply a greater force to stretch it before it is deformed permanently. This is a measure of stiffness and rubber is a soft material.

In your own mind you know that you can stretch an elastic band between your thumb and forefinger, but would be unable to stretch a equally sized band of steel with the same force the same amount. If on the other hand you place each in a machine that could stretch the material by a specific length

Elasticity is the property of a material to return to its original state after straining. Steel has a higher elastic modulus (Young’s modulus) than rubber meaning you can apply a greater force to stretch it before it is deformed permanently. This is a measure of stiffness and rubber is a soft material.

In your own mind you know that you can stretch an elastic band between your thumb and forefinger, but would be unable to stretch a equally sized band of steel with the same force the same amount. If on the other hand you place each in a machine that could stretch the material by a specific length (that remained within the elastic region of both materials) and then let go then the steel would spring back with more energy as it has required several thousand times more energy to stretch it to that length (0.01–0.1 GPa for rubber vs 200 GPa on average for steel).

On the other hand rubber can strain more before it is permanently deformed or fails and requires less energy to do so and the inter chain bonding restricts the chains from moving past each other but can be broken and reformed which allows strains to be dissipated as heat, which makes rubber great for tyres, shoe soles and other things that need to absorb shocks. Something a high Young’s modulus would make it bad for.

Profile photo for Quora User

Elasticity is given as Stress / Strain.

So for a given stress, Elasticity is inversely proportional to Strain.

So under the action of same force (stress), rubber will stretch more than steel so its elasticity will be less because bigger change in shape or size (strain) under the action of same force (stress) leads to less elasticity

Profile photo for Quora User

It is not. Rubber is much more elastic as measured by its ability to deform and return to its original shape.

What steel has on rubber is its ability to store MUCH more energy elastically.. per unit mass.

Profile photo for Khushboo Singh

A material shows elastic behaviour before yield point.If material yields than it will not regain its shape but will deform plastically.Youngs modulus is used to predict the elastic behaviour of solid.If youngs modulus is more than material will not yield early i.e. the material will be more elastic.

Youngs modulus for steel = 200 Gpa

Youngs modulus for rubber =0.1 Gpa

Hence steel is more elastic then rubber.

Profile photo for Quora User

No. Steel is more plastic than rubber.

Rubber is highly elastic but is not plastic.

Elastic means ability to get stretched…and get back to the original shape and size when released.

Plastic means ability to flow and deform under stress. For example, steel can be bent, pulled, rolled, drawn etc. into different shapes and sizes. Rubber would not be able to withstand those operations and would break.

Profile photo for Quora User

Both are elastic. Within to their own limits. The 'elasticity' in rubber, and some plastics, is high and visible to the eye, hence common people can observe it. Steel, the example taken, also expands but not enough to be seen by human eye.

Profile photo for Arpit Dubey

strain produced in the steelis comparatively smaller than the strain produced in the rubber. Therefore, with the help of Young's modulus, it can be concluded that steel has greater elasticity than rubber

An elastomer is a polymer with viscoelasticity (i.e., both viscosity and elasticity) and has very weak intermolecular forces, generally low Young's modulus and high failure strain compared with other materials.

Profile photo for Melvyn Miller

English is an imprecise language. Math provides precision. An elastomer is a polymer the deformation of which can be predicted by the linear relationships provided by the theory of elasticity for certain applied forces. Steel is a metal that is also described by the same relationships, often for a greater range of applied forces. The moduli for steel are generally larger than those for most forms of rubber.

Profile photo for Ravuri Sarath

As per google, elastic is defined as

Ability to resume its normal shape spontaneously after being stretched or compressed.

We must know one thing that every body irrespective of quantity of force, deforms under action of force. If the force is lower than elastic limit, it will resume it's normal shape.

Now, if we press steel it deforms and resumes normal quickly comparatively more than rubber.

-Sarath

Profile photo for Mohan Raghavan

Elasticity is the ability of a body to resist a distorting influence and to return to its original size and shape when that influence or force is removed. It is calculated as the ratio between the stress and strain.

Stress is defined as the force experienced by the object which causes deformation. Strain is defined as the change in the shape of an object when stress is applied.

For a...

Profile photo for Vijay Kumar Polimeru

In layman terms,

Elasticity is not the amount of stretch a material can undergo. It is the amount force (or load) a material can bear without undergoing permanent deformation.

The key term here is Permanent Deformation. If it happens the material cannot come to its original shape upon removal of the Force acting on it. It means the shape (or geometry) of the material has changed permanently.

Hope this helps,

All the best.

Profile photo for Nikhil Kumar

Elasticity can be understood as the property possessed by a material to restore its mechanical properties on removal external elongating or deforming force. For instance, a rubber band can be extended by pulling it with ease. On the contrary, elongating a steel wire significantly requires a large force. This rather means that steel restores to its original mechanical state better than a rubber band. Therefore, to hold a huge weight, steel or metal ropes are used than rubber bands. An immediate instance would be the modern bridges.

Profile photo for Ravindra Kumar

Technically, modulus of elasticity of steel is more than rubber.

Practically, you must have seen Gillette blades, which are made up of stainless steel, these blades are made from 5–10 CM thik slabs. So by comparing the thickness of slab and blade one can understand that Steel is more elastic than rubber.

Profile photo for Malcolm Holley

Yes and no. If you bounce a steel ball bearing on steel it will rebound more than from a block of rubber.This because the deformation of the steel is within its elastic limit.Try stretching the steel beyond its elastic limit and you get a different story when you compare it with stretching rubber and releasing it. So; it all depends on the degree of deformation.

The strain produced in rubber is much larger compared to that in steel. This means that steel has a larger value of Young's modulus of elasticity and hence, steel has more elasticity than rubber. Note: Greater the resistance to change, greater is the elasticity of that material.

Profile photo for Quora User

More the elastic modulus of a substance, the more elastic it is. And modulii of elasticity are generally defined as:

E = stress/strain.

Now you can easily figure out why metals are more elastic than rubber. You need to apply more stress to metals to get the same strain as that in rubber. So modulii of elasticity of metals are greater than that of rubber; and hence the elasticity.

Profile photo for Venkatakrishnaiah Thandaga

1.The modulus of elasticity of steel is greater than that of rubber because under the same stress.

2. Modulus of elasticity is inversely proportional to strain for a given stress.

3. If steel and rubber are under the same stress, the strain in steel is less than rubber 4. Hence steel is more elastic than rubber.

Profile photo for Quora User

Elasticity is the ability of a material to regain it's original shape after deformation. When we deform steel and rubber, the restoring force developed is larger in steel since it has higher stiffness(Young's Modulus can be taken as a measure of stiffness). Hence steel is more elastic than rubber.

Elasticity is the property of a material by virtue of which it returns to its original dimensions instantaneously during unloading.

So, as per definition, Mild steel is more elastic than Rubber because after/during unloading Mild steel takes lesser time than Rubber to regain it's original shape.

Steel is ductile and rubber is brittle material.Rubber has more elastic strain that means its dimension get completely recovered once stress is released but in case of steel plastic strain dominates and once we release applied stress some energy is stored in steel and it won't recover its dimensions completely.

Profile photo for Steve Blumenkranz

A very strong steel (300,000 psi yield) has a maximum strain at yield (the engineering definition of the elastic range) of approximately 10^4 microstrain or about 1% elongation. Latex rubber by contrast has a maximum elongation of 700%. So let’s see……….that makes rubber 700 times more elastic than steel.

Profile photo for QuantuM

Elasticity is the property of body to resist changes in it’s dimensions now I think you got the idea why we call it more elastic than rubber.Rubber when stretched extends more that is why it may seem to be more elastic.Rubber exhibits more deformation but it undergoes change in dimensions after regular use a steel wire may withstand……it is like talking about displacement and distance we consider distance not displacement here

Profile photo for Desire Design

Steel is more elastic than rubber because it resists stretching more and returns to its original shape better when force is applied. In physics, this makes steel more "elastic," even though rubber can stretch more easily.

Profile photo for Sunil Patil

Rubber is more elastic. It depends on value of modulus of elasticity(E). Less the value E, more elastic is the material.

Profile photo for Atul Sc

yes. totally!

that is why steel is used to make springs and many more things. and rubber and similar polymers are used,,,,, they are used to make elastic bands. lol

is would suggest you read about hook’s law and elastic limit. it will surely give you a better idea.

PS. i though rubber is more elastic than steel when i was back in 10th grade.

Profile photo for Tiger TMT Iron Rods

Steel is more elastic than rubber because the strain in steel is much smaller than the rubber. Elasticity is the nature of a material to resist the change in its form. It is measured as the ratio of stress to strain. For a given stress (stretching force per unit area), strain is much smaller in steel than in rubber.

About · Careers · Privacy · Terms · Contact · Languages · Your Ad Choices · Press ·
© Quora, Inc. 2025