ELI5: Explain Like I'm 5

Deformation (mechanics)

Deformation is what happens when an object is pushed, pulled, or bent. It is a measure of how much an object has changed shape. For example, when you squish a rubber ball, it is deformed because it is changed from its original round shape. Deformation is caused by forces which are applied to an object, and is usually measured in terms of how much the shape has changed in relation to its original shape.