Stiffness

For pain and/or loss of range of motion of a joint, see joint stiffness. For the term regarding the stability of a differential equation, see stiff equation.
"Flexibility" redirects here. For other uses, see Flexibility (disambiguation).
Extension of a coil spring, caused by an axial force,

Stiffness is the extent to which an object resists deformation in response to an applied force.[1]

The complementary concept is flexibility or pliability: the more flexible an object is, the less stiff it is.[2]

  1. ^ Baumgart F. (2000). "Stiffness--an unknown world of mechanical science?". Injury. 31. Elsevier: 14–84. doi:10.1016/S0020-1383(00)80040-6. "Stiffness" = "Stress" divided by "strain"
  2. ^ Martin Wenham (2001), "Stiffness and flexibility", 200 science investigations for young students, SAGE Publications, p. 126, ISBN 978-0-7619-6349-3