Hooke's Law

Mechanical properties of materials:

1. Strength is the ability of the material to resist, without rupture, external forces causing various types of stresses.

2. Elasticity is the ability of the material to regain to its original shape and size after deformation, when external forces is removed.

3. Plasticity is the ability of the material to retain the deformation produced under the load on permanent basis.

4. Stiffness or Rigidity is the ability of the material to resist deformation under the action of external load.

5. Resilience is the ability of the material to absorb energy when deformed elastically and to release this energy when unloaded.

6. Toughness is the ability of material to absorb energy before fracture takes place. This property is essential for machine components which are required to absorb impact loads.

7.  Malleability is the ability of the material to deform to a greater extent before signs of crack appear, when subjected to compressive force.

8. Ductility is the ability of the material to deform to a greater extent before the sign of crack, when subjected to tensile force.

9. Brittleness is the property of the material which shows negligible plastic deformation before fracture takes place. Brittleness is opposite to ductility.

10. Hardness is defined as the resistance of material to penetration or permanent deformation. It usually indicates resistance to abrasion, scratching, cutting or shaping.