Question

Which of the following is an example of plastic deformation?

• A. stretching a rubber band
• B. stretching salt water taffy
• C. none
• D. both

Answer 1

The correct option is B stretching salt water taffy

Whenever a deforming force is applied to a non-rigid substance, the substance undergoes deformation in dimension or shape. Elastic substances are those which come back to their original shape or dimensions after the deformation force is removed. Plastic substances are those which do not come back to their original shape or dimensions even after the deformation force is removed.

Salt water taffy is a plastic material. Hence stretching of it will be a plastic deformation. Rubber-band is an elastic material.