Which property describes the ability to return to original shape after removing deforming forces?

• A. Elasticity
• B. Plasticity
• C. Corrosion resistance
• D. Ferrous metal

Answer: (A)

Elasticity is the property describing a material’s ability to return to its original shape after the deforming forces are removed, as long as the deformation stays within the elastic range. When you apply a load, the material strains; if you release the load before reaching the yield point, the internal structure snaps back and the shape is recovered. This reversibility is what we mean by elastic behavior. If the deformation goes beyond the elastic limit, permanent change occurs in the material’s structure, and it won’t fully return to its original shape—this is plastic deformation.

In contrast, plasticity describes that permanent change, corrosion resistance is about how well a material resists chemical attack rather than how it changes shape, and a ferrous metal is simply a type of material containing iron, not a property describing how it deforms.