Which is More Elastic Glass or Steel?

Answer: Rubber has a lower elongation than steel. This is explained using Young’s modulus. Young’s modulus defines the relationship between stress (force per unit area) and strain (proportional deformation of an item). When a solid item is subjected to a specific load, it deforms. When the pressure on an elastic object is relieved, the body returns to its original shape. Many materials are not linear and elastic beyond a minor degree of deformation. 

When a solid material is subjected to a little load in compression or extension, it deforms elastically. Elastic materials’ deformation can be reversed. At near-zero stress and strain, the stress–strain curve is linear, and the relationship between stress and strain is specified by Hooke’s law, which states that stress is proportional to strain. The proportionality coefficient is known as Young’s modulus. The larger the modulus, the more tension is necessary to create the same amount of strain; the Young’s modulus would be infinite in an idealized rigid body. An extremely soft substance, such as a fluid, would deform without force and have a Young’s modulus of 0.

Steel has the greatest elasticity. The linear stress-strain curve of steel is the sharpest of any material. A stiffer material has a higher elastic modulus.