How is Young's Modulus of Elasticity calculated?

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Young's Modulus of Elasticity is a fundamental property that quantifies the relationship between stress and strain in a material that is being deformed elastically. It is defined mathematically as the ratio of stress (force per unit area) to strain (the proportional change in length). This means that for a given amount of stress applied to a material, Young's Modulus provides a measure of how much that material will deform.

When calculating Young's Modulus, it is essential to understand that stress must be divided by strain to yield the modulus. This division reflects how much deformation (strain) occurs for a given applied load (stress), thus providing insight into the material's stiffness. A higher modulus indicates a stiffer material that deforms less under a given load, while a lower modulus indicates a more elastic material that will deform more.

In contrast, the other options do not accurately represent the relationship defined by Young's Modulus. Adding stress and strain does not yield a meaningful physical quantity related to elastic properties, while multiplying stress by strain or taking the inverse (strain over stress) does not reflect the intended definition of the material's elasticity.

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