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GCSE Combined Science · key term
A change in shape or size that is not completely reversed when the deforming forces are removed, leaving a permanent change.
Used by OCR
Specification P2.3b · Physics Paper 1
Revise: Elastic vs. Plastic DeformationPlastic deformation is not completely reversible: after the stretching forces are removed, the object does not return completely to its original shape and length.
Physics, Combined Science
A permanent change in shape or size that remains after the applied forces are removed.
Plastic deformation does not require the object to stay at its fully stretched length. Any permanent change means it has not recovered completely.
Do not identify deformation as elastic just because an object stretches; both elastic and plastic deformation can involve stretching.
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The object remains changed: this is plastic deformation. An overstretched spring may therefore remain longer after it is unloaded. Here, ‘plastic’ describes permanent deformation, not a particular type of material.
