ELI5: Explain Like I'm 5

Elastic modulus

Elastic modulus is a term used to describe how stretchy or bendy something is. Imagine if you had a rubber band and you stretched it. The elastic modulus of the rubber band would describe how much it stretches and how quickly it bounces back to its original shape.

In science terms, elastic modulus is a measure of how much stress (like stretching or pressure) a material can handle before it starts to deform or change shape. For example, if you push on a piece of clay with your fingers, it will start to change its shape or break apart. The elastic modulus of the clay would describe how much pressure it can handle before this happens.

Different materials have different elastic moduli. Some materials are very stretchy, like rubber bands or springs, while others are very rigid and don't bend much, like concrete or steel. The elastic modulus is measured in something called pascals (Pa), which is a unit of pressure.

So, in simple terms, elastic modulus is a measure of how much something can be stretched or pushed before it starts to change shape, and different materials have different elastic moduli.