Elasticity

If a material has a load applied to it that causes the stress in the material to exceed the elastic limit, the material will no longer return to its original size after the load is removed.

When the elastic limit is passed, we say that the material has become plastic or inelastic.

We are not too interested in inelastic behavior when discussing force measuring instruments, because all force measuring devices are designed to operate at a stress level below that of their elastic limit.

Overloading force instruments damages them because the elastic limit is exceeded.

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